CONAGUA, PROFEPA Sign Agreement to Protect San Vicente River

The National Water Commission (CONAGUA), the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), the municipalities of Tzimol, Comitan and Socoltenango and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Chiapas introduced an environmental protection, restoration and repair program to sanitize Chiapas' San Vicente River. 

Back in 2022, the National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) issued a statement warning of ”the violations of human rights to a healthy environment and water sanitation, due to the contamination of the San Vicente River, due to the discharge of municipal wastewater without prior treatment, the operation of the Comitan de Dominguez landfill and inadequate management of urban solid waste and special management, to the detriment of the inhabitants of Tzimol, Comitan de Dominguez and Socoltenango, Chiapas.”

Felipe Irineo, Head of the Southern Border Basin Organization, CONAGUA, explained that environmental protection and waste treatment policies will be implemented in the San Vicente River to enhance water and waste management. Irineo highlighted that CONAGUA’s actions follow Recommendation 159/2022 issued by the CNDH. Florisel Santiago, Representative, PROFEPA, explained that authorities will provide continuous follow-ups in compliance with CNDH’s recommendations.

"We have the firm conviction that, through joint work, the corresponding actions can be carried out in terms of pollution prevention and conservation of water resources, we must look to the future, so that the next steps are those of promote the participation and awareness of Chiapas society to preserve the environment, since we all live in it,” says Irineo via a CONAGUA press release.

Kim Durand, CEO and Founder, Cheaf, explained to MBN that Mexico suffered historic water shortages in 2022 due to lower than average rain levels and water management problems, which left 70% of Mexicans under drought conditions in the summer of that year. Durand argues that repairing leaks at dams and adjusting budgets is not enough to address these water problems, arguing that the country needs a more efficient distribution system to improve water availability.