Santo Domingo.– Producciones TE LO EXPLICO presented the second installment of its special report on the Hatillo dam, a journalistic investigation carried out by the journalist Nairobi Viloria, creator of the media and native of Cotuí.
The work, disseminated through Te Lo Explico News on YouTube, documents the results of physical, chemical, and microbiological analyses of the reservoir water, with the aim of identifying the causes of the green coloration that has generated concern among the population and throughout the province of Sánchez Ramírez. TE LO EXPLICO Productions informed that the investigation was entirely funded by the media outlet itself and by journalist Viloria, without sponsorship from public or private institutions, reaffirming its independent nature. As the main artificial surface water body in the country, the Hatillo dam fulfills key functions in hydroelectric generation, flood control, fishing, recreation, and indirect water supply, so its environmental quality is essential for the ecological and productive sustainability of the region. The media invited citizens, authorities, academics, and environmental organizations to watch the full report and learn about the findings of this independent journalistic investigation.Consulted Experts and Institutions
You can also read: Nairobi Viloria, nominated for the Soberano Awards for her innovative informational proposal “I Explain It To You” | De Último Minuto | Dominican Republic News
IMPA-UASD conducted the sampling and microbiological analyses, while the physicochemical studies were processed by the Franja Laboratory. Among those interviewed were Dr. Modesto Cruz, director of IMPA-UASD, and Dr. Frank Reyes, director of the Franja Laboratory. In addition, Edwing Pujols Fernández, general manager of Nextworld Technology Spain, a company contacted by the Ministry of Environment to propose solutions to the coloring of the reservoir, and environmentalist Luis Carvajal, coordinator of the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic, were interviewed.Key findings by the IMPA
The analyses carried out by the Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology (IMPA) of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo reveal a worrying scenario of environmental and health contamination in the water of the Hatillo dam, in Cotuí. The study confirms the significant presence of bacteria indicative of fecal contamination, including: total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Enterobacter sp and Klebsiella sp, as well as occasional detections of Escherichia coli, which demonstrates the reservoir’s contact with human and animal waste, possibly from wastewater discharges, agricultural runoff, and nearby human activities. Microscopic analyses repeatedly identified the presence of Microcystis sp, a cyanobacteria associated with eutrophication processes and known for its ability to produce microcystins, highly dangerous toxins for human health and aquatic life. This finding scientifically explains the green coloration of the water observed in the reservoir. The technical report also documents the presence of microalgae such as Desmodermus sp and Staurastrum sp, indicator species of aquatic ecosystems with excess nutrients, high organic load and ecological imbalance, which reinforces the diagnosis of progressive environmental deterioration. Specialists warn that these conditions pose direct risks to public health, especially in a reservoir used for recreational, productive, and environmental use, in addition to generating negative impacts on biodiversity, fishing, and the balance of the aquatic ecosystem. It recommends carrying out specific analyses to detect and quantify microcystins, as well as permanent monitoring of physicochemical and biological parameters of the water, in order to establish prevention, control, and environmental management measures that allow protecting the population and the ecosystem of the dam.Key findings in the physicochemical study
The physicochemical study carried out by the Franja Laboratory on the surface water of the Hatillo dam detected high levels of heavy metals and toxic substances that exceed the maximum acceptable parameters for surface waters intended for aquatic life and environmental use. The results reveal concentrations of nickel up to 1,613 mg/L, well above the permitted limit (0.1 mg/L), as well as the presence of total chromium, copper, manganese, and cyanide, substances associated with environmental and health risks. The report identifies high levels of total nitrogen and phosphorus, elements that favor eutrophication processes, which contributes to the proliferation of algae and the deterioration of water quality. They warn that these pollutants pose a risk to aquatic biodiversity, public health, and the ecological balance of the reservoir. The results reinforce the need for permanent monitoring, environmental intervention, and control of pollution sources, as well as the implementation of urgent management and sanitation measures in the Hatillo dam basin.
