Wastewater that should be going to the San Miguel de Allende treatment plant is being diverted by farmers in the San Miguel Viejo area to irrigate their crops. These illegal spills, along with the discharges from the treatment plant, flow into the Allende Dam, feeding the water hyacinth.
Citizen Juan Álvarez spoke out to publicize the problem affecting the entire municipality and the inaction of the authorities. Despite the discharges occurring near the railroad tracks, the contaminated water reaches the Allende Dam.
“The problem is the diversion of wastewater by farmers in San Miguel Viejo, who modify the drains to feed canals, creating a very real pollution problem. The smell is unbearable, and the worst part is that they use the water to irrigate their plots,” he stated.
Just under the railroad bridge, raw sewage is gushing from the pipe that should carry water to the treatment plant located a little over a kilometer away. The sewage is channeled in sacks to both sides of the Las Cachinches stream that runs through the area, and then diverted into what appear to be irrigation canals.
“We all know that produce for human consumption comes from here. We want the government to take notice because this is a breeding ground for disease that these people (community landowners) are spreading throughout the federal zone and even to the Allende Dam,” he stated.
The raw sewage, originating from neighborhoods such as El Malanquín, Brisas, Misión de la Estación, San Javier, and some new residential areas that lack their own treatment plants, flows into this drain, which is being punctured by the farmers.
“Right now, with the water hyacinth problem at the Allende Dam, they’re spending a lot of resources cleaning it, but what good is cleaning it if the real cause of the hyacinth is the sewage discharge? They should address that first and give people another irrigation option,” Juan Álvarez pointed out.
The citizen emphasized that both ejido members from San Miguel Viejo and farmers with plots in the federal zone adjacent to the railroad tracks have told him they need water; however, the authorities should provide them with treated water, which would prevent contamination of the area and even the food they grow.
“Right now the canals are somewhat clean because of the rain, but in the hot weather the smell and flies are unbearable; this is a breeding ground for disease. (…) Everyone says it’s wrong and that they’re going to look into it, but nobody does anything,” shared the resident, who stated that he has already gone to Sapasma (the municipal water utility), Conagua (the national water commission), and even the Health Jurisdiction.
The canal, fed by sewage, stretches for more than 5 kilometers parallel to a dirt road next to the railroad tracks; it reaches the Treatment Plant—where it receives its own discharges—and continues into the residential area.
“I hope that the different agencies, Sapasma and Conagua, do something about this because it’s unacceptable. They are literally neglecting their duties; they have to enforce the law. (…) This isn’t fair to those of us who want a decent life,” he said.
Source: periodicocorreo
