Water contamination in Jalisco, Mexico

Water contamination issues have emerged in the Jalisco region of Mexico, involving both illegal waste discharge and landfill runoff.

In September, authorities in El Salto launched investigations into the illegal discharge of wastewater, sludge, or potentially toxic liquids into a channel connected to the Río Santiago basin. The Jalisco State Water Commission and the State Environmental Protection Agency filed criminal complaints following an incident where a vacuum truck was allegedly used to dump waste. This follows long-standing concerns regarding heavy metals and carcinogenic substances in the Lerma-Santiago Basin.

By October, reports surfaced of severe contamination in the Milpillas River and Huaxtla waterfalls, attributed to leachate runoff from the Picachos and Hasar landfills. While the Governor of Jalisco stated a leak had been identified and controlled, local residents dispute this, claiming heavy rains cause recurring overflows from waste storage pits. Residents have reported visible ecological damage, including the drying of irrigated orchards, and have criticized previous environmental inspections for lacking sufficient water sampling to detect heavy metals.