Opportune moment to discuss water (in)security in Brazil

An ecological disaster hit Brazil during the first week of November this year. The Fundão dam in the Doce River, which collects wastewater from an iron mine owned by BHP Billiton/Vale, burst and released 40-62 million m³ of polluted water. High levels of arsenic and other persistent pollutants now threaten food chains in the river ecosystem. Two weeks later the pollution reached the sea where the coastal zone fauna also was damaged. 12 people have died and another eleven are still missing.