Tamaulipas water utilities cut service to thousands over unpaid bills

The municipal government of Matamoros announced that its priority is to recover the overdue debt of the Junta de Aguas y Drenaje (JAD). Mayor Alberto Granados Fávila reported that a recent collection drive recovered more than one million pesos in a single day and that the administration aims to eliminate a backlog of roughly 3.383 billion pesos, while continuing an intensive drain rehabilitation program.

In Ciudad Victoria, the Comisión Municipal de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (COMAPA) has stepped up its debt‑recovery effort, imposing about 500 daily water service cuts or pressure reductions on users with outstanding balances. COMAPA manager Fernando García Fuentes said over 40,000 customers owe nearly 500 million pesos, and the utility is seeking to regularise payments through expanded payment options and temporary service restrictions.

Both entities face criticism over financial mismanagement. COMAPA Victoria has been cited for open trenches that pose safety risks and for a reported financial shortfall of several million pesos attributed to alleged corruption. Authorities are monitoring the situation as the utilities strive to stabilise revenue while maintaining service quality.