Zahuapan River pollution leads to suspension of textile company in Tlaxcala

The Zahuapan River in Tlaxcala, Mexico, has recently turned a reddish color due to suspected industrial discharges, prompting investigations by environmental authorities. The Procuraduría de Protección al Ambiente del Estado de Tlaxcala (PROPAET) conducted inspections of the sewage network across several municipalities, including Tlatempan, Atzitzimititlán, and Tizatlán.

Authorities identified a textile dyeing and washing facility as the likely source of the wastewater. During the inspection, PROPAET found that the establishment lacked the necessary environmental documentation and did not possess a wastewater treatment plant. As a security measure, the agency ordered a temporary suspension of the company's activities.

The facility may face fines of at least three million pesos. While the specific commercial name of the company is being withheld for legal reasons, the incident follows previous instances of red discoloration in the river, which is already noted as one of the most polluted in the country. Meanwhile, the company Providencia Tlaxcala has stated it operates under a “Zero Industrial Water Discharge” scheme and utilizes its own treatment plant.