The contamination of the Belico and Cubanicay rivers, which border the center of Villa Clara, has a long history. One of the first lessons families in the area teach their children is that the surrounding rivers “are not good for swimming.” A simple walk near their waters reveals they have turned into ditches where city sewage flows, and residents and municipal services dump trash.

Locals recount that during rainy months, the rivers overflow, and murky water floods the patios and porches of nearby houses. Most waste accumulates in El Belico, a short distance from the historic center of Santa Clara, a mandatory route for those heading from Parque Vidal to the bus terminal, or toward the hospital zone.

Hospitals: A key pollutant

While no studies directly link the contamination of the Belico and Cubanicay rivers to human health, recent research, particularly a 2024 study, raises alarms about the environmental risks of dumping waste into these waters.

Multiple studies agree that the primary sources of pollution in the Belico include:

• Waste burning along the riverbanks
• Deforestation of its riverbanks
• Agricultural fertilizers
• Untreated or poorly treated sewage discharged from industrial and hospital facilities

Among the earliest open-access studies, a 2016 publication by the Marta Abreu Central University (based on samples taken between 2012 and 2013) demonstrated the acute ecotoxicity of antibacterial compounds discharged by the “Dr. Celestino Hernández Robau” Provincial Hospital into a section of the Belico.

The experiment involved using river water to test the effect of pharmaceutical concentrations on lettuce seed germination. Results showed all tested antibacterials impaired germination, leading experts to conclude, “the discharge of antibacterial residues could cause harmful environmental contamination.”

Subsequent investigations identified pharmaceutical compounds and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the Belico, particularly linked to the hospital’s wastewater.

Contaminated Water Used for Agricultural Irrigation

The Belico and Cubanicay rivers merge into the Arroyo Grande reservoir system north of Santa Clara. These waters are used for irrigation in the Yabu Valley, which spans more than 2,154 hectares of various crops.

A 2019 study warned about the microbiological, chemical, and ecotoxicological quality of these waters. It detected levels of nitrite, ammonia, and thermotolerant coliforms (fecal contamination) exceeding Cuban standards.

The researchers labeled the reuse of this water for irrigation as a “health hazard” for crops consumed raw, concluding it was “not suitable for agricultural activities from a microbiological perspective.” They urged authorities and the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene.

2024 Alerts: Clarias with high metal levels sold for consumption

In 2024, researchers from the University of Cienfuegos and Marta Abreu Central University studied bioaccumulated exposure to heavy metals in clarias (a fresh water catfish) from the Belico ecosystem. Ten frequent fishermen were interviewed—six confirmed they sold the captured clarias.

Seventeen residents of Santa Clara’s Condado Sur district were also surveyed: 84% reported eating claria occasionally or regularly, with 64% purchasing it from street vendors.

The study analyzed the muscle tissue of 20 fish specimens, finding that seven exceeded permissible levels of cadmium, lead, and copper set by Cuba’s 2015 mandatory standard.

• Cadmium: Linked to vomiting, diarrhea, and potentially fatal outcomes, it can accumulate in kidneys and cause severe health issues.
• Lead: Highly toxic, especially for pregnant women and children, it affects the brain, liver, kidneys, and bones.
• Copper: In excess, it can cause liver damage, abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

The scientists warned, “It is necessary to alert the public, through mass media or alternative means, of the dangers of consuming C. gariepinus (claria) from contaminated rivers, and to control the illicit commercialization of this invasive exotic species.”

However, this report found no public warnings from authorities advising Villa Clara residents to stop consuming claria or to cook vegetables grown in the Yabu Valley, not consuming the raw.

A problem over 20 years old

Numerous reports in state and independent media show this is a longstanding issue. Since at least 2003, articles have drawn attention to the problem. That year, Cubanet reported a thick layer of fuel oil in the Belico River.

In 2014, Carlos Martínez, a former biology professor at the Marta Abreu Central University, explained to Diario de Cuba that poor urban planning caused Santa Clara’s sewer system to discharge into the rivers.

Martínez highlighted that sewage discharges clog drains, causing floods. The report referenced a Vanguardia article, which stated hundreds of cubic meters of debris and solid waste were dumped into the river daily.

A 2023 report from 14yMedio included resident testimonies on the Belico and Cubanicay waters’ condition. It mentioned that in 2016, provincial authorities and the municipal services department allocated a budget to rehabilitate both rivers.

State media Cubadebate reported cleanup efforts in November 2017, with workers using trucks, trailers, and excavators to remove waste. However, 14yMedio noted that less than “five years later, the rivers had returned to the same state of putrefaction.”

This article was translated into English from the original in Spanish.