SADER Visits Tula to Oversee Water Treatment

Mexico’s government is implementing actions to restore the Tula River and improve wastewater treatment, as part of broader efforts to reduce pollution and promote environmental sustainability in Hidalgo.

As part of his tour through Hidalgo to oversee various irrigation and agriculture modernization projects, Julio Berdegué, Mexico’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), visited the Wastewater Treatment Plant (PTAR) in Atotonilco de Tula. This facility has the capacity to treat up to 3.5 billion L of wastewater from the Mezquital Valley, benefiting over 10 million people.

Since its inauguration in 2017, the plant has been described as one of the most advanced and largest of its kind in Latin America. The treatment process includes chemical, physical, and biological stages, after which the purified water is returned to the Tula River. In addition, some of the treatment residues are converted into biosolids rich in nutrients, which can be used to improve soil fertility and, in turn, boost crop production.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly emphasized the importance of water access as a fundamental human right. As part of the National Water Plan, the Mexican government plans to invest MX$24 billion (US$1.2 billion), and when combined with state and municipal budgets, total investments is expected to reach nearly MX$50 billion. These funds will be allocated to strategic infrastructure projects aimed at ensuring equitable water access, reducing environmental impact, and promoting transparent water management.

In March, during the inauguration of the wastewater treatment plant in Tlaxcala, Sheinbaum outlined a three-pronged strategy to clean up the Atoyac, Tula, and Lerma-Santiago rivers. First, authorities will ensure that treatment plants operate efficiently, without requiring excessive expenditures, using technologies such as constructed wetlands to clean the water. Second, the government will engage in dialogue with companies to ensure compliance with water quality regulations, and apply sanctions when necessary. Finally, existing municipal sewer systems that discharge directly into rivers will be replaced with marginal drainage systems connected to treatment facilities.

Ensuring the proper operation of the Atotonilco plant is one of several initiatives aimed at environmental restoration in the region. In January 2025, the president reaffirmed her administration’s strong commitment to improving the quality of life in Tula, a city heavily impacted by pollution. In addition to river cleanup efforts, the plan includes converting the Tula thermoelectric power plant from fuel oil to natural gas. This transformation is expected to begin in July and marks a step toward reducing emissions in the city — emissions that have already had serious health consequences for local residents.

At the same time, educational and awareness programs have been rolled out in nearby communities and schools to promote reforestation, proper solid waste management, and the transition to renewable energy sources.