The town of El Chaltén in Argentina’s Patagonia region has seen glacial meltwater contaminated by antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to a failing sewage treatment system. Despite a 2024 court ruling mandating facility upgrades, as of October 2025, the third wastewater treatment plant remains under construction. The existing two plants cannot handle the daily wastewater load from 14,000 tourists during peak season. Testing by the National University of Mar del Plata revealed five strains of E. coli resistant to three common antibiotics at the confluence of the Las Vueltas and Fitz Roy rivers, directly threatening drinking water safety for locals and tourists. Community physician Carolina Codo warned that infections caused by these drug-resistant bacteria could render conventional treatments ineffective, potentially triggering a public health crisis.
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