On 15 August severe sea swells overturned a construction platform working on the marine works of the Los Pelambres desalination plant project. There has been no significant environmental impact or damage to the works, and some of the equipment and materials lost have been recovered.
However, the swells have continued which have impeded further recovery work and the Chilean environmental authority, the SMA, has required on 9 September that as a precautionary measure marine works should be placed on hold until the clean-up of the remaining sunk equipment carrying fuel or lubricants is progressed such that any risk of environmental impact is removed.