Cancún Ecosystem Under Threat: Cement Spill Imperils Lagoon

A cement spill has been reported in Cancún's Nichupté Lagoon, posing a significant threat to the local ecosystem and protected species. The spill occurred as a result of ongoing construction work on a new vehicular bridge.

An anonymous environmentalist, who has been monitoring the construction site for a month, confirmed the spill occurred in early May. The spill was located near the Tajamar mangrove bridge, on a platform used for gathering construction materials.

Guillermo Delgado Christy, an expert in water treatment, highlighted the potential damage caused by the spill. He explained that the cement could bury marine grass and local fauna, violating the conservation intentions of the natural protected area (NPA). “Any runoff of foreign material into the lagoon is unacceptable,” he emphasized.

Delgado Christy also warned that the cement could solidify and bury the seagrass and animal species in the area, similar to what has happened in the underground caves beneath the Maya Train route. "The extent of the damage depends on the volume of cement spilled. The more cement, the more damage. The presence of quick-setting additives could exacerbate the situation," he added.

The solution, according to Delgado Christy, is to prevent further spills and clean the affected area promptly. He stressed the importance of careful work, up-to-date mitigation measures, and quick clean-up protocols.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Nichupté Vehicular Bridge project estimates the total volume of concrete needed for the construction to be 165,861.62 cubic meters. This will be used for the creation of slabs, beams, cast in place headers and prefabs, piles, and struts.

Delgado Christy called for public complaints about the cement spill and urged the federation to enforce environmental laws. The Federal Attorney's Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) is responsible for preventing the destruction of natural resources and reversing environmental deterioration.

The anonymous environmentalist who first reported the spill plans to lodge an anonymous complaint with Profepa in the coming days, in hopes of ensuring environmental protection measures are enforced.