Wirikuta region faces critical aquifer overexploitation

Communities and activists in the Altiplano region of San Luis Potosí have raised alarms regarding the critical overexploitation of the Vanegas-Catorce aquifer. During the Water Festival of the Altiplano Potosino-Wirikuta, held in Estación Catorce, participants reported an annual deficit of 7.9 million cubic meters in the underground basin.

Local residents and organizations identified several drivers of this water crisis, including the expansion of intensive greenhouse agriculture for tomato and chili production, as well as the irregular installation of poultry and pig farms. These activities threaten traditional wells, community pits, and the sacred biocultural landscape of the Wixárika people in Wirikuta. The crisis is reported to directly affect approximately 9,579 people in Catorce and 7,557 in Vanegas.

In response, communities have formally called upon the State Congress of San Luis Potosí to harmonize local legislation to prohibit technologies aimed at artificially modifying rainfall processes in the region.