Culiacán faces surge in illegal water theft and network manipulation

Culiacán is facing a significant surge in water theft, locally referred to as ‘aguachicol,’ characterized by clandestine connections and the manipulation of the hydraulic network. Transparency records from the Junta Municipal de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de Culiacán (JAPAC) reveal that between January 2024 and July 2026, the agency issued 24,701 sanctions for various irregularities, generating approximately 28 million pesos in revenue.

Inspectors documented direct or illegal connections, pipe manipulation, violation of limiting seals, and alterations to the sanitary drainage system. High-incidence areas include Lomas de San Isidro, Costa del Sol, Barrancos, San Fermín, and Alturas del Sur. The Alturas del Sur neighborhood recorded the highest number of infractions, totaling 2,103 sanctions in less than three years.

Fines for these violations ranged from 1,260 to 7,876 pesos depending on the severity. While the city works to expand supply through projects like the 207-million-peso South-West Water Treatment Plant, authorities continue to combat these illegal extractions.