Coatzacoalcos aqueduct faces mandatory environmental inspections

A federal judge has ordered environmental inspections for the Coatzacoalcos aqueduct construction project and the lower Uxpanapa River basin. The ruling follows a collective amparo lawsuit (1089/2026-11) filed by members of 13 Chinantec and Nahua indigenous communities in southern Veracruz, Mexico.

While construction is permitted to continue for now, authorities are mandated to conduct exhaustive technical verifications within three business days to ensure compliance with Mexican Official Standards and the National Water Law. If inspections reveal leaks, spills, aquifer contamination, or ecological imbalances that threaten public health or the ecosystem, authorities must immediately implement corrective and mitigation measures.

The court also stipulated that work must be temporarily suspended if the project lacks valid authorizations, fails to meet environmental safety standards, or poses an imminent threat to water availability. Such a suspension would remain in effect until the serious risks are eliminated. Involved agencies are required to report their findings and the status of protected natural elements to the judicial body.