Jalisco water crisis: Landfill leachate contaminates Milpillas River

Residents and environmental organizations in Jalisco, Mexico, are reporting severe water contamination in the Milpillas River and the Huaxtla waterfalls. The pollution is attributed to leachate runoff from the Picachos and Hasar landfills located upstream.

While Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro stated that a leak from the Picachos landfill had been identified and controlled, local residents dispute this claim. They argue that the issue is not a single isolated leak but a recurring problem where heavy rains cause leachate to overflow from waste storage pits into the river system.

Community members have noted that the contamination has worsened since March and has caused visible damage, including dried-out mango orchards irrigated by the river. Critics also pointed out that environmental inspections, including those by Profepa, lacked proper water sampling to determine the exact presence of heavy metals or other pollutants. Residents continue to monitor the area due to fears of permanent ecological damage.