The office of the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro has discovered wastewater has leaked into the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, where the Olympic rowing and canoeing events will be held in August.
The discharge was detected during a monitoring visit by technicians from the Environment Municipal Secretary and Water Company (CEDAE) to a luxury shopping mall, the hippodrome and a petrol station.
Officers visited the commercial establishments after receiving complaints from community associations, the mayor announced on Monday in a statement.
In the Shopping Leblon, one of the most-exclusive shopping centres in the city, the wastewater discharge was detected in sewers flowing into the lagoon.
In Rio's exclusive Jockey Club, a high class social venue and the city's hippodrome, leaked urine was detected in the gutters.
Water pollution in the lagoon, where the rowing and canoeing event will be staged, as well as the Guanabara Bay, the regatta venue, has become one of the main concerns of international federations responsible for the international sporting event.
