Bacalar Municipality Plans Major Infrastructure Projects to Protect Seven Colors Lagoon

Bacalar, Quintana Roo — The Bacalar municipal government is working on multiple initiatives to protect the lagoon system and improve infrastructure, including expanding the sewer system along the southern coast and planning a modern coastal road that would require over 400 million pesos in investment.

Mayor José Alfredo Contreras Méndez said authorities are currently encouraging homeowners and businesses in the coastal zone to connect to the municipal sewer system to reduce pollution risks to the Seven Colors Lagoon.

The mayor explained that some properties still use sealed pits or biodigesters, and the municipality wants them to integrate into the sewer system to strengthen environmental protection for this ecosystem.

“We’re inviting private homes that haven’t connected to the sewer system yet, because this will help us preserve the Seven Colors Lagoon,” he said.

The municipality is also developing an infrastructure project for Bacalar’s southern coast that includes installing sewer systems, sidewalks, potable water, and electrical wiring.

However, Contreras Méndez acknowledged this is a large-scale project that will require resources from both the state and federal governments.

“The municipality alone can’t do it. We have approximately 85 million pesos for public works, but this project could cost more than 400 or even 500 million pesos,” he noted.

The project includes building a modern two-lane coastal road with sidewalks, though some sections currently have less than 10 meters of roadway, complicating planning.

The municipal government is already in talks with the Bacalar ejido and landowners to free up the approximately 24 meters of width needed to develop the roadway.

The mayor explained that construction permits in the area require homes to have biodigesters or sealed pits, plus maintenance logs confirming monthly upkeep of these systems.

This measure aims to prevent contaminating discharges that could affect water quality in the lagoon system.

As part of conservation efforts, the municipal government also works with nautical service providers and hoteliers who participate in lagoon cleanup days.

During the low season, authorities implement an environmental measure suspending lagoon navigation on Wednesdays to allow cleanup activities.

“Nautical operators and hoteliers clean the entire lagoon system on days when there’s no navigation,” the mayor emphasized.

Additionally, Bacalar maintains collaboration agreements with academic and scientific institutions, including the University of Milwaukee in Wisconsin and ECOSUR, conducting ongoing monitoring and campaigns to preserve this ecosystem.

Tourism Expectations

Mayor Contreras Méndez also highlighted Bacalar’s positive tourism outlook for the coming months.

During Holy Week, he said, occupancy is expected to reach nearly 100%, a figure that could be matched in June during the International Open Water Marathon, one of the destination’s most important sporting events.

This year, organizers anticipate participation from 2,500 swimmers from various countries, which would set a new attendance record.

The mayor recalled that the event began about 20 years ago with just 30 competitors and has since become an international tradition positioning Bacalar as a tourist and sports destination.