Chemuyil Residents Rally for Clean Water Amid Sewage Crisis

Residents of the Chemuyil community are calling for immediate action to address their ongoing water shortage and sewage system failure. These issues have led to inflated bills, pollution, and unsanitary living conditions in the community.

The residents have urged local authorities to address these critical issues. During a gathering in the community center, approximately twenty residents expressed their frustration over enduring these conditions for months. The situation is worsened by sewage overflow in homes located in low-lying areas.

Ariel López Novelo, a local resident, expressed the community's exhaustion over the situation. He highlighted the unfairness of high charges for water services that are not being provided. Despite numerous complaints to the Potable Water and Sewerage Commission (CAPA), the residents have not received a satisfactory response.

Chemuyil is home to around 280 registered houses. However, due to limited land availability, many families have added second and third levels to their homes, significantly increasing the area's water demand. Novelo emphasized that the water shortage also affects local workers, who struggle to maintain personal hygiene due to the lack of water.

Novelo also revealed that the infrequent water supply they do receive is often contaminated with waste such as sargassum, garbage, and even larvae. The community's sewage system is another major concern, with malfunctioning drainage pumps leading to sewage overflow, particularly during holiday seasons.

The community's complaints about these issues often take months to be addressed, leading to unsanitary conditions, especially in the town's lower areas. Novelo stressed that the sewage overflow contaminates the subsoil, affecting the local aquifers and cenotes, posing a significant health risk.

In response to these issues, the residents of Chemuyil are demanding immediate action from the CAPA manager, whose identity remains unknown to them due to his absence from the community. They are also calling on the mayor of Tulum, Diego Castañón, to intervene and address their concerns. The community insists they are willing to pay for services, but demand fair charges, clean water, a functional drainage system, and adequate attention to their concerns. Novelo concluded by assuring that the community will continue to seek solutions.