Brazilian water agencies uncover illegal oil and wastewater discharges in Minas Gerais and Goiás rivers

The Minas Gerais sanitation company Copasa reported oil stains on the Rio das Velhas in Sabará, indicating that an unknown property was dumping oil into the municipal sewage system. Copasa said investigations are underway to locate the source and take corrective action, with support from the local environment secretariat and the environmental police.

In Goiás, the municipal environment agency Amma and the state Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development carried out a joint inspection of the Rio Meia Ponte in Goiânia. Technicians inspected four high‑risk sites, used drones for aerial imaging, photographed conditions and spoke with residents. Water samples will be taken for laboratory analysis to determine any contamination and to guide future enforcement actions.

Both investigations aim to identify illegal effluent releases, protect water quality and enforce environmental regulations.