Cozumel Mayor Announces Tour of San Miguelito Wastewater Plant Amid Pollution Allegations

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Cozumel Mayor José Luis Chacón announced Friday that he will lead a tour of the San Miguelito wastewater treatment plant with business leaders and environmentalists, aiming to show transparency in the facility’s operations after weeks of accusations that it has caused severe environmental harm.

Speaking on the island, Chacón said the tour is intended to let participants see the facility and the investments already made. “What is the objective? That they see the facilities and the investment that has already been made,” he said.

The mayor blamed former Governor Carlos Joaquín for the plant’s abandonment and the resulting environmental damage. “Obviously, after more than six years of neglect, this plant cannot be fixed overnight. So the investment made by the state government of Governor Mara Lezama and CAPA needs to be made visible,” he added.

Chacón said the tour will be led by him and Hugo Garza, director general of the Water and Sewerage Commission (CAPA).

The announcement follows repeated complaints last month by the civil association Sélvame MX, which accused the San Miguelito plant of spilling raw sewage into the mangrove, contaminating Laguna Ciega and the island’s reef system. According to the group, monitoring in the area revealed a strong, penetrating sewage odor, large pools of green water, and areas of dead mangrove. They also detected water with a strong sewage smell and wide areas with a whitish layer floating on the surface, possibly grease or oil. The environmental group called on citizens to speak out against the facility.

The plant was inaugurated on March 26, 2013. Last year, the state government announced an expansion to double its capacity from 110 to 230 liters per second.