Yucatán’s Wastewater Crisis: Time for Action

The National Water Commission (Conagua) recently held the Yucatán Aquifer Sanitation Forum. The focus of the forum was the urgent need for wastewater sanitation and reuse in the Yucatán Peninsula. The need was particularly emphasized for Mérida and its surrounding areas, home to over 1.3 million people, a third of the total population of the three peninsular states.

During the forum, Eduardo Batllori Sanpedro, a researcher from the Center for Advanced Study Research (CINVESTAV), highlighted the significant lag in wastewater treatment in the Yucatán. Over 80 percent of homes use cesspools, which do not allow for proper wastewater treatment and sanitation. Ideally, each home would have its own treatment plant.

The Yucatán Peninsula is home to over 5 million people. Of these, over 1.3 million reside in Mérida and its surrounding areas, in about 380,000 homes. Most of these homes lack treatment plants, resulting in waste being discharged directly into the aquifer. As a result, population growth has outstripped the regulatory mechanisms needed to manage these discharges.

The average sanitation rate across the peninsula is low, at 26 percent, and in Yucatán it is only 13 percent. This presents a significant challenge to improve technologies and processes. "The aquifer is contaminated, we are going upstream, we must see how to remedy the situation. Regulations exist, it's time to take action," it was noted.

Batllori Sanpedro called for a concerted effort from all three levels of government to control wastewater discharges in line with Mexican standards. He stressed the need for developers in growing municipalities to install treatment plants or biodigesters.

Yolanda Fernández Martínez, a specialist, emphasized the need for a forward-thinking approach, beyond simply addressing current challenges. She called for affirmative regulations and urgent action, and warned that water, a resource that Yucatán has in abundance, is already being traded as a future commodity on the Stock Exchange, and its quality is at risk. She proposed a metropolitan planning institute to prioritize a water agenda in line with new territorial needs.

Fernández Martínez also suggested creating and expanding a sewage network for the state, which would require significant coordination and investment from different levels of government. She proposed incentives for homeowners to install their own treatment plants, rather than punitive measures.

Jorge López argued for a metropolitan water and sanitation system for Mérida and its urban area, where the biggest regional issues lie. He also called for a state water commission to address issues in indigenous communities.