Rio mayor discovers wastewater leak into Olympic rowing venue

The office of the mayor of Rio de Janeiro has discovered that wastewater leaked into the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, where the Olympic rowing and canoeing event will be held next August.

The discharge was detected during a monitoring visit by technicians from the Environment Municipal Secretary and Water Company (Cedae) to a luxury shopping mall, the hippodrome and a petrol station, reports Efe.

Officers visited the commercial establishments after receiving complaints from community associations, the mayor announced in a statement on Monday.

In the Shopping Leblon mall, one of the most exclusive shopping centres in the city, the wastewater discharge was detected in sewers flowing into the lagoon.

In Rio de Janeiro's exclusive Jockey Club, a high class social venue and the city's hippodrome, leaked urine was detected in the gutters.

Water pollution in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, where the rowing and canoeing event will be held, as well as the Guanabara Bay, the regatta venue, has become one of the main concerns of international federations responsible for the international sporting event.

--IANS

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