Faecal waste pollutes drinking water in Mexico’s Yucatan, Greenpeace says | Environment News
Faecal Bacteria Contaminate Water Sources in Yucatan, Greenpeace Reports
MEXICO CITY — A recent report by Greenpeace reveals that faecal bacteria are contaminating wells and sinkholes in Mexico’s Yucatan state, raising concerns over the quality of drinking water in this region.
The report, released on Tuesday, suggests that nearby pig farms and municipal wastewater are significant sources of this pollution. According to environmental indicators highlighted in the report, the region is experiencing severe localized organic pollution.
Greenpeace is calling for an immediate moratorium on new industrial livestock operations and farm expansions in Yucatan, which holds historical significance as the heartland of the ancient Maya civilization. Without above-ground rivers, the area relies exclusively on groundwater as its freshwater source. The region’s porous limestone bedrock facilitates the rapid infiltration of pollutants into the aquifer.
In August, Greenpeace commissioned an independent laboratory to analyze water samples from 17 locations near the state capital, Merida. The testing sites included wells at homes and farms, community water points, and cenotes, natural sinkholes that are popular tourist attractions. The results showed varying degrees of contamination, with total coliform bacteria exceeding the test limits in 16 of the 17 samples, while faecal coliform was identified in 13 samples. However, the tests could not determine the specific source of the faecal waste, as leaking septic tanks and municipal sewage could also be factors.
Separately, tests utilizing the Pig2Bac DNA method indicated the presence of pig faecal matter in samples analyzed at laboratories at Johns Hopkins University and Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM). Greenpeace emphasized that these findings raise serious accountability questions regarding nearby pig farms.
Local Maya communities have joined Greenpeace in urging environmental authorities to take action against the contamination.
A UN report from July highlighted that Yucatan is home to more than 500 industrial pig farms housing over 50,000 animals, many situated near Indigenous lands. Marcos Orellana, the report’s author and a former UN special rapporteur, noted that waste and chemicals from these farms quickly contaminate the water used by local communities for bathing, cooking, and drinking. He criticized the majority of these farms for lacking necessary permits and described regional government initiatives as inadequate.
“The contamination of the waters that have sustained Mayan culture for millennia is predominantly coming from the industrial operations involved in animal farming,” Orellana stated.
In contrast, Antonio Zumarraga, vice president of the Yucatan Citizen Scientific Water Observatory, defended the local pork industry, pointing to investments in water treatment and conservation efforts while placing blame on local authorities for their lack of action.
“It’s an issue that, as long as it doesn’t carry political weight for the government, they won’t do anything about it,” Zumarraga said.
As of now, the Yucatan state government has not commented on the report. Mexico’s national water commission, CONAGUA, and Merida’s Association of Pig Farmers also did not respond to requests for comment.
