The Sedapal workers union has pushed back against claims by politician Keiko Fujimori, stating that flooding in Villa María del Triunfo is the responsibility of Peru's Ministry of Transport and Communications.
In an official statement released following heavy rainfall on Sunday, August 16, the union rejected proposals to restructure the state water utility, arguing that severe waterlogging across southern Lima stems from deficient urban planning rather than company management issues.
Addressing specific complaints regarding sewage overflows in Villa María del Triunfo, the union stated that the district bypass is under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima. The union highlighted that the bypass bridges lack any rainwater drainage system.
The union explained that neither Lima nor the neighboring port city of Callao possesses street gutter or drainage canal systems designed to absorb significant rain. In steep districts like Villa María del Triunfo, rainwater gathers in low-lying areas, prompting residents to manually open sewer manholes. This causes drainage pipes to fill with mud, sand, and trash, leading to system collapses and widespread flooding.
Infrastructure challenges and urban drainage
Sedapal, formally known as Servicio de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de Lima, is Peru's state-owned water supply and sanitation utility serving the metropolitan capital and Callao. Located on the arid Pacific coast, Lima rarely experiences heavy rainfall, leaving many residential sectors without dedicated storm water infrastructure.
Rejecting calls for corporate restructuring, the union emphasized that Sedapal workers are consistently on the front line during national emergencies. The union noted that its staff regularly respond to waterlogging, fires, mudslides, and earthquakes, providing emergency assistance not only across Lima but also in northern Peru and in Pisco following the major 2007 earthquake.
The labor organization called on Sedapal senior management to issue a public statement clarifying the technical facts and formally disclaiming technical responsibility for the flooding in southern Lima.
Political dispute and presidential candidate comments
The dispute arose after Keiko Fujimori, leader of the Popular Force party and former presidential candidate, publicly held Sedapal accountable for the sewage water flooding Villa María del Triunfo. Fujimori stated that municipal authorities, local teams, and Sedapal required restructuring, noting that residents had complained about sewage issues for ten years without resolution and asserting that organizational failures were present.
While rain inundated parts of southern Lima, Fujimori continued her scheduled Sunday social media livestreams. During the broadcasts, she responded to a viewer question about her appearance by offering skincare advice, stating that she did not use collagen, but protected her skin by applying sunscreen in the morning and removing her makeup before applying moisturizer at night.
