Malacatos Sewage Rupture Raises Water Quality Concerns for Vilcabamba Valley Residents

A ruptured sewage main in the town of Malacatos, located 30 km upstream from Vilcabamba, discharged untreated wastewater into the Malacatos River for at least 72 hours before municipal crews completed a temporary repair on February 6.

The break occurred in a 40-year-old concrete pipe that serves approximately 4,000 residents in the Malacatos urban core. Local residents reported a visible sewage plume and strong odour near the central bridge as early as February 3.

Health Advisory

The Loja cantonal health directorate issued a precautionary boil-water advisory for communities downstream:

• Malacatos centro (below the break point)
• Landangui
• Vilcabamba (the river joins the Vilcabamba River system 8 km upstream of town)

Dr. Patricia Alvarado, cantonal health director, said water samples were collected on February 5 and results are expected within 5-7 business days. Until laboratory confirmation that coliform levels have returned to normal, all downstream users should boil water for at least one minute before consumption.

The Bigger Infrastructure Problem

The rupture highlights the fragile state of water infrastructure in southern Loja province:

• Malacatos's sewage system dates to the 1980s and serves roughly 60% of the town's population
• A $2.8 million upgrade grant from the Banco de Desarrollo del Ecuador has been pending since 2024
• Vilcabamba's water treatment plant, completed in 2019, was designed for 3,500 connections but currently serves approximately 4,200

What Expats Should Do

The Vilcabamba expat community (estimated at 800-1,200 residents) should:

1. Boil all municipal water until the advisory is lifted
2. Consider a filtration system -- ceramic filter units are available at local hardware stores (though they sold out quickly after the advisory)
3. Test well water if you're on a private well -- the rupture doesn't affect groundwater directly, but it's good practice

"This is not the first time, and it won't be the last," said longtime resident David Morrison, who runs a community water-testing initiative. "Anyone on municipal water should invest in a quality filtration system."

Repair Status

The temporary repair involves a PVC sleeve over the broken concrete section. A permanent repair requiring full pipe replacement on a 15-metre section is scheduled for late February, pending procurement of materials from Loja city.

Source: La Hora