Mexico's Guasave and Chihuahua confront water contamination and drought crises

In the municipality of Guasave, Sinaloa, the local water authority (Junta Municipal de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de Guasave) has launched an awareness campaign and warned of possible sanctions against livestock owners who allow cattle to drink directly from irrigation canals that supply domestic water. The practice has polluted the water, degrading quality for rural communities. Fines could start at 5,000 pesos, pending civil‑court rulings.

In the northern state of Chihuahua, Governor María Eugenia Campos Galván said the severe drought is creating different water needs across municipalities, with some areas facing supply shortages while others struggle with failing hydraulic infrastructure. The state government will tailor actions to each locality’s specific conditions.