La Araucanía declares sanitary risk zone in Traiguén due to septic tank overflow

The Regional Ministerial Secretariat of Health of La Araucanía declared the commune of Traiguén a sanitary risk zone, due to the collapse of private sewage systems saturated by rainwater and the surfacing of groundwater. The decision, adopted through Exempt Resolution No. CP 20.007, dated August 21, 2026, was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile (No. 44,538) on Monday, August 31, 2026, in Section I of General Norms, with reference CVE 2862392.

The measure is based on the Sanitary Code (DFL No. 725/67) and DFL No. 1 of 2006, which empower the regional health authority to eliminate or control environmental factors that affect the health of the inhabitants. The declaration responds to a meteorological event that caused septic tanks to overflow due to flooding and waterlogging in two sectors of the commune.

Impact and Technical Background

According to the Damage and Needs Assessment System Alpha Report No. 12-D, dated August 12, 2026, prepared by the I. Municipality of Traiguén, and the Sanitary Inspection and Risk Assessment Technical Report, dated August 17, 2026, the affected sectors show overflows of streams, canals, and roads in poor condition, with overflowing septic tanks and limited operability.

• 20 homes affected in the Aniñir sector.
• 25 families affected in the Villa El Tesoro de Chufquen sector.
• Surfacing of groundwater that prevented the use of toilets, tubs, showers, and sinks.
• Generation of unsanitary hotspots and attraction of vectors of sanitary interest.

Obligations of the Municipality

The resolution establishes that the I. Municipality of Traiguén must implement all necessary actions to facilitate the adoption of sanitary and emergency measures, in order to control the risks derived from the described events and ensure that the health of the inhabitants is not affected. The declaration of a sanitary risk zone seeks to have the municipality manage the necessary resources for the protection of the population.

Immediate Validity

The administrative act, signed by the Regional Ministerial Secretary of Health of La Araucanía, José Isafor Bravo Burgos, will enter into force without waiting for its publication in the Official Gazette, due to the urgency required to address the situation. The sanitary risk zone will be maintained for the time strictly necessary for the elimination of the risk.

The declaration constitutes a legal mechanism that activates coordination between the health authority and the municipality to address an emergency that directly affects the quality of life and health of dozens of rural families in Traiguén, in a context of adverse climatic events that have strained the sanitary infrastructure of the region.

Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile, No. 44,538, August 31, 2026, Section I (General Norms), p. 1 (official reference: CVE 2862392).