The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) reported that it detected failures at the Los Cebollales wastewater treatment plant in Panajachel, following a citizen complaint about alleged pollutant discharges into Lake Atitlán, located in Sololá, Guatemala.
The environmental ministry stated that the case is part of a criminal proceeding against the Municipality of Panajachel.
Personnel from the MARN Departmental Delegation and the Vice Ministry of Water took samples at the plant as part of a proceeding alongside the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP). The objective is to determine whether there are substances that could compromise the quality of the lake's water.
The inspection was carried out following a criminal complaint filed previously. MARN noted, in a statement released this Tuesday, November 10, that it will continue with the necessary actions based on the findings in the municipality of Sololá.
The amount for the damage to the lake will be defined in the judicial file
MARN explained that it is in the process of quantifying the environmental damage attributed to the wastewater discharges. The notification of the estimated amount will be made through the court handling the case.
The institution did not specify the volume of water discharged, the period during which the discharge would have occurred, or the results of the analyses carried out by the authorities. It also did not report whether the Los Cebollales plant remains operational or whether it was subject to med...
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The Ministry of Environment detected failures at the Los Cebollales treatment plant following a complaint about discharges into Lake Atitlán. (TGW)
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) reported that it detected failures at the Los Cebollales wastewater treatment plant in Panajachel, following a citizen complaint about alleged polluting discharges into Lake Atitlán, located in Sololá, Guatemala. The environmental ministry indicated that the case is part of a criminal proceeding against the Municipality of Panajachel.
Personnel from the MARN Departmental Delegation and the Vice Ministry of Water took samples at the plant as part of a proceeding alongside the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP). The objective is to determine whether there are substances that could compromise the quality of the lake's water.
The Municipality of Panajachel faces a criminal proceeding for the alleged discharge of wastewater into Lake Atitlán. (Noticias Sololá)
The inspection was carried out after a criminal complaint was previously filed. The MARN stated, in a communiqué released this Tuesday, November 10, that it will continue with the necessary actions based on the findings in the municipality of Sololá.
The MARN explained that it is in the process of quantifying the environmental damage attributed to the wastewater discharges. Notification of the estimated amount will be made through the court handling the case.
The Public Prosecutor's Office and environmental authorities collected samples to verify water quality in Panajachel. (Amsclae)
The institution did not specify the volume of wastewater discharged, the period during which the discharge would have occurred, or the results of the analyses conducted by the authorities. It also did not report whether the Los Cebollales plant remains operational or whether it was subject to immediate corrective measures.
The criminal case is directed against the Municipality of Panajachel for the alleged discharge of wastewater into the lake. In parallel, the Ministry of Environment is processing eight sanctioning files for lack of an environmental instrument, although the communiqué did not detail the projects, establishments, or individuals affected by those administrative proceedings.
The lack of an environmental instrument can lead to administrative sanctions under Guatemalan law, in addition to the responsibilities determined by judicial authorities in cases of harm to natural resources.
The Los Cebollales treatment plant was promoted as a project focused on efficiency and biological functioning. (Government of Guatemala)
The MARN also announced the imposition of two fines totaling Q76,890.02, equivalent to about USD 10,060.94, for extraction and crushing activities of materials in the channel of the San Francisco River, in the department of Sololá.
The first sanction fell on Constructora y Trituradora Linda Vista, located in Santa Cruz La Laguna. The fine was Q51,600, about USD 6,751.78. The second corresponds to Piedrinería San Francisco, in Panajachel, which must pay Q25,290.02, equivalent to approximately USD 3,309.16.
The MARN linked these actions to the surveillance measures over the Lake Atitlán basin. The institution stated that it will follow up on the results of the inspection in Panajachel and on the administrative proceedings opened in Sololá.
Lake Atitlán ranks among the most visited tourist destinations in Guatemala, along with Antigua Guatemala and the Tikal archaeological park.
Tourist flow to Lake Atitlán sustains transportation, lodging, and dining services in several communities of Sololá. (Inguat)
Its surroundings include towns such as Panajachel, Santa Cruz La Laguna, San Juan La Laguna, and Santiago Atitlán, where tourism activity sustains lodging services, lake transportation, dining, handicrafts, and excursions.
Guatemala received 3.36 million non-resident visitors in 2025, an 11% increase compared to 2024, according to figures from the Guatemalan Tourism Institute cited by local media. Between January and July 2026, the country accumulated 1.92 million visitors and USD 636 million in tourism revenue.
Preserving water quality is relevant for a destination whose offering depends on its landscape, its communities, and the activities linked to the lake.