Monquirá River faces severe pollution and ecological crisis in Sogamoso

The Monquirá River in Sogamoso is facing a severe sanitary and ecological alert due to excessive waste accumulation and sewage discharges. Technical diagnoses from environmental authorities classify the water degradation as high to very high, driven by high concentrations of fecal coliforms. Untreated discharges from the Pilar and Ceibita areas, along with organic matter from the Carrera 14 collector, have caused a critical oxygen deficit that has eliminated aquatic life.

In addition to sewage, the river is being impacted by the illegal disposal of construction debris and pottery waste. This has reduced the hydraulic capacity of the protective zone, leading to flooding in residential sectors such as Venecia, Vargas, and Lomitas. Environmental entities like Corpoboyacá have called for an end to clandestine dumping of toxic materials, such as mattresses and unusable goods.

The environmental crisis has resulted in an irreversible loss of 5% of local ecosystems and the spread of invasive species. Furthermore, the contaminated water flows directly into the Chicamocha River, threatening agricultural irrigation and livestock activities.