Sassinoro – A serious environmental disaster has struck the municipality of Sassinoro, in the Benevento area, where the Sassinora stream has been contaminated by as yet unidentified toxic substances.
The devastation was immediate and total: an entire trout farm, located between Morcone and Sassinoro, was completely destroyed. The water, once crystalline, became black and unbreathable, spreading the pollution downstream toward the Tammaro River and the strategic Campolattaro Dam, a facility in which the Campania Region has invested heavily for water purification.
The sewage treatment plant in crisis and the shadow of illegal dumping
Initial investigations indicate that the disaster was caused by damage to the municipal sewage treatment plant, which collapsed due to the presence of anomalous substances incompatible with its treatment capacity. There is a strong suspicion that these substances originate from unauthorized industrial discharges in the PIP (Production Settlement Plan) area, pointing the finger at illegal activities operating with impunity.
Suspicious discharge seized
Law enforcement and ARPAC (Campania's Regional Agency for Environmental Protection) responded immediately to the emergency site. Technicians have already taken water samples for laboratory analysis, which will identify the toxic substances and their concentrations. At the same time, the suspicious discharge was seized, a crucial step in tracing the source of the pollution.
Green-Left Alliance MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli, alerted by local citizens and activists, expressed harsh words: “We are facing a very serious episode, yet another act of violence against the environment and our water system.
It's unacceptable that public facilities are being brought to their knees by illegal dumping, and that honest farms are suffering devastating losses due to those who act illegally and with impunity. I expect the judiciary and ARPAC to work hard to quickly identify those responsible. We will file a civil action if fraud is proven.
Borrelli then emphasized the gravity of the potential consequences: "The environmental, economic, and potentially health damage must be monitored extremely carefully: we're talking about waters that feed a strategic reservoir for the Region. I will immediately request a formal update from ARPAC and urgent intervention from the Department of the Environment."
The mayor's concern and request for collaboration
Sassinoro Mayor Luca Apollonio spoke of the lengthy timeframe for restoring the sewage treatment plant, estimating at least 90 days for a return to normal operations. He also called for full institutional cooperation to limit the damage and prevent similar incidents from recurring.
"We need a control and prevention plan for all industrial facilities upstream from major waterways," concluded Deputy Borrelli. "Campania cannot afford to see its water resources compromised by a few environmental criminals." The Sassinoro incident rekindles the spotlight on the fragility of ecosystems and the urgent need for stringent controls against those who, for profit, are quick to compromise the health of the environment and citizens.
What's happening in Sassinoro is worrying. We can't allow illegal dumping to harm nature. The authorities must take urgent action to stop this situation. It's unacceptable to see contaminated water.