Residents of Cartagena’s Concepción neighbourhood were met with an unpleasant smell on the morning of twenty-two September, as a sewage pipe failure caused a significant spill. The issue was a busted sewage pipe that flooded the bed of the Benipila ravine, spreading through the city centre and leaving a visible stain that could be seen from the Cartagonova bridge and the walkway near the Cartagena Oeste health centre. This spectacle attracted curious onlookers drawn by the mystery behind the foul odour.

The Central Sanitary and Sewerage Service alerted the Ayuntamiento around eight-thirty in the morning, which quickly identified the cause of the leak. It was determined that a failure in the secondary sewer system, which runs through urban territory, was to blame. Municipal sources reassured residents that the damaged section would be repaired on the same day, with workers actively pumping out the area to ascertain the cause of the problem, employing heavy machinery just in case deeper excavation was needed.

Hidrogea, the water company, confirmed the spillage originated from a breakdown in the sewage system but insisted that no damage occurred to nearby streets or homes. They stated, “The puddle is being cleaned and repairs are underway”, assuring residents that the situation was under control.

Interestingly, the area near the Efesé stadium has been a construction zone for months as Hidrogea and the Ayuntamiento have been working on a new pumping station. While the episode has caused a temporary nuisance, both authorities are keen to resolve the situation swiftly to prevent any further inconvenience.