Grease accumulation causes sewage system failures in Paraguay and Mexico

Sanitary infrastructure in Luque, Paraguay, and Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, is facing significant challenges due to the accumulation of grease and waste in sewage systems.

In Luque, a sewage system collapse occurred near the Municipal Market on Bertoni Street. Technicians from the Empresa de Servicios Sanitarios del Paraguay (ESSAP) reported that excessive grease caused a blockage and subsequent rupture of the main pipe, leading to pavement subsidence. Repairs involving deep cleaning and pipe replacement were initiated to restore the damaged street.

Similarly, in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, the Municipal Commission of Potable Water and Sewerage (COMAPA) is conducting weekly interventions to clear obstructions. Manager Fernando García Fuentes noted that grease, oils, and food waste frequently clog pipes, which are often too narrow to handle such debris. In some instances, hardened grease requires workers to break through pavement to access deep-seated pipes, increasing repair costs.