Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The island’s water authority is expanding its infrastructure with 22 new wells to increase supply capacity and address growing demand during peak tourist seasons.
Manuel Gurigutia Barrientos, manager of the Comisión de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (CAPA) in Cozumel, announced that new equipment has arrived to begin drilling the additional wells. This will expand the system from 113 to 135 wells.
“The equipment we requested to open more wells and have greater supply opportunity has arrived,” Gurigutia explained. “We had 113 and we’re looking at the possibility of reaching 135 wells, which will allow us to operate without problems.”
Water demand increased by up to 30% during the high season in February, which includes holidays and high visitor numbers. This surge caused low-pressure episodes in some areas, though Gurigutia assured that water supply was never interrupted.
“We did have a low-pressure issue, but we’re addressing it immediately,” he said. “It should be resolved in the coming days.”
Regarding daily consumption, Gurigutia noted there’s no exact figure since it depends on individual usage, but emphasized that CAPA maintains operations at major reservoirs like Base 1 and Altamar to ensure service.
To maintain pressure amid fluctuating demand, the authority implements a zoning rotation system that supplies water for four-hour periods in different areas. The new wells will allow for longer pumping times with greater stability.
With the expansion to 135 wells, CAPA aims to ensure that Cozumel’s urban and tourism growth is supported by sufficient water infrastructure, addressing consumption needs during peak seasons and the constant increase in demand for the vital resource.
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