Mare-Chicose Leachate Risk: Overflow Could Hit Saint-Hubert Homes
Pumping operations at Mauritius's main landfill have stopped for a week due to unpaid transporters, raising overflow fears ahead of heavy rains.
Joanna Bérenger, a prominent environmental activist and member of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM), has raised the alarm over a potentially serious situation at Mare-Chicose, Mauritius's only operational landfill site, located in the south of the island near Mahebourg.
In a Facebook post on 13 November, Bérenger warned that pumping and transportation of leachate, the toxic liquid that seeps through landfill waste and is considered highly hazardous to both human health and the environment, had been suspended for about a week. The reason given: transporters have not been paid and have halted their services.
Of the four leachate storage basins at the site, one is currently under repair and two others are already full. A transfer of leachate into the reserve basin is reportedly under way, but this significantly reduces the site's remaining capacity to absorb new accumulations of the liquid.
Bérenger is particularly concerned about what could happen if heavy rainfall hits the area. If the basins overflow, contaminated leachate could flow into a nearby canal and reach the residential neighbourhood of Saint-Hubert, putting local families at risk of exposure to a liquid that contains bacteria, heavy metals and chemical compounds.
She is calling for the immediate resumption of pumping operations and the urgent settlement of outstanding payments owed to the transport contractors. Beyond the operational crisis, she is also questioning who bears responsibility for the management failures at the site, and expressing frustration that no sanctions appear to have been applied to parties that have allegedly failed to meet their contractual obligations.
Mare-Chicose has long been a source of environmental concern in Mauritius. The landfill has been operating well beyond its originally intended capacity for years, and debates over its long-term future, as well as the construction of a waste-to-energy facility, have continued without resolution.
What this means: If the situation is not resolved quickly, the combination of full storage basins, suspended pumping and the approaching wet season could create a public health and environmental emergency in a residential area. Residents of Saint-Hubert and surrounding communities are most directly at risk. The incident also highlights wider governance questions about contractor accountability and payment processes in the management of critical public infrastructure.
Source: ION News
Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
What is leachate and why is it dangerous?−
Leachate is a liquid produced when rainwater filters through decomposing waste in a landfill. It contains harmful substances including heavy metals, bacteria and chemical compounds. At Mare-Chicose, Mauritius's main landfill in the south of the island, leachate is collected in storage basins and transported away for treatment. If it overflows, it can contaminate soil, waterways and nearby residential areas.
Where is Mare-Chicose and who manages it?−
Mare-Chicose is located in the Mahebourg area in the south-east of Mauritius. It is the country's only large-scale operational landfill and is managed under the oversight of the Ministry of Environment. The site has been operating beyond its original capacity for a number of years and has been the subject of ongoing environmental and public health concerns.
Which area is at risk if the leachate overflows?−
According to Joanna Bérenger, if the storage basins overflow, contaminated liquid could flow into a canal leading toward the residential neighbourhood of Saint-Hubert, putting local families in direct contact with toxic leachate, particularly during heavy rainfall events.
From Our Network
Living & Travel in Mauritius
Explore the Island →
📧 Breaking alerts straight to your inbox