The large amount of daily discharges by the more than 900,000 inhabitants of Mérida is contaminating the aquifer located beneath the city, and closing Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) will only increase the pollution of underground rivers.
This was warned by chemical engineer Humberto Reyes Montiel, from the organizations Ciudadanos Hartos and El Agua Podrida de Mérida, who lamented the suspension carried out on Thursday by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) at the municipal WWTP in the Chalmuch community.
Unexpectedly, the federal agency arrived at the facilities located in the southwest of the municipality, near the municipal landfill, on Thursday afternoon.
During the inspection, alleged irregularities were found in its operation, and suspension seals were placed outside the site.
These facilities receive wastewater from the sewer system as well as household drains, so halting their operation will result in these waste being discharged into the aquifer without being treated.
Regarding the closure, the spokesperson for the Mérida City Council informed that in response to the temporary closure of the treatment plant carried out by Profepa, they are working to present evidence of compliance with environmental processes and operations in this facility.
“The municipality is working on exhausting all verification mechanisms that validate the proper functioning of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will be presented to the corresponding authorities,” shared the municipality.
They also indicated that, in accordance with legal guidelines, they are coordinating with the federal authority to restore this service as soon as possible.
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