Blue Water And Eco-Tek Ready To Help Lake Atitlan’s Cyanobacteria, Raw Sewage Problem

Officials holding money know about the two companies, but will serious talks start leading to solutions

By Greg Szymanski, JD
March 24, 2010

Effective cyanobacteria monitoring and water treatment facilities are needed immediately at Lake Atitlan to correct future toxic algae outbreaks like just occurred in 2009.

Despite all the talking, raw sewage is still be dumped daily into Lake Atitlan from more than 60,000 people living on the shoreline in 12 villages and towns surrounding the 30,000 acre volcanic crater-shaped lake.

Reports from other lakes around the world verify algae clean-up, estimated to cost millions at Lake Atitlan, is not good enough since if the root causes aren’t dealt with, the toxic algae only returns, especially during hot summer months.

The recent algae outbreak, covering 85 per cent of the lake with a thick green scum, sent shock waves through the community, bringing a $30 million dollar tourism industry to a halt and creating a nightmare for the indigenous population whose main water source remains undrinkable.

Government reports claim 15 water treatment plants are needed to solve the problem at a whopping cost of $350 million since there is not one plant operational today.

And seven months after the outbreak, despite all the promises and finger pointing, not one plant has been built although the government Monday held a ceremony on the UN’s World Day of Water, saying construction for the first plant will soon begin.

To read the rest of this article subscribe now!