Tulum’s Water Crisis: Sewage Threatens Cenotes

TULUM — The rapid tourist growth that has characterized Tulum in recent years is generating a major environmental concern: the contamination of aquifers due to inadequate treatment of wastewater from hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in the sector.

According to the environmental association "Tulum Limpio," the capacity of current treatment systems has been exceeded, which is causing leaks of sewage into the subsoil and bodies of water. This situation, they warn, threatens the quality of the cenotes and beaches, pillars of the municipality's natural appeal.

"Nowadays, it is possible to take samples in some cenotes or coastal areas and find traces of fecal matter. This happens because many systems are overwhelmed and discharges from hotels go directly into the subsoil," warned a representative of the association.

The analyses and testimonies collected confirm the presence of organic pollutants in the water system, affecting not only the ecological balance but also Tulum's image as a sustainable tourism destination.

"People are attracted by the color of the water, by the purity of the cenotes, but if they knew what many of them contain today, they would hesitate to enter," added the activist.

In the face of this problem, "Tulum Limpio" proposes replacing the current model of small, inefficient plants with an integral solution: the construction of a modern, intermediate-capacity treatment plant, designed to process the discharges from several establishments collectively.

"It is illogical that if 30 hotels exist, there are also 30 plants that operate at half capacity. A single, well-designed and well-supervised plant can regulate the discharges and prevent irreversible damage," stated the organization.

The call from the environmentalists seeks to open a debate about the ecological responsibility of the tourism sector and the urgency for local and state authorities to implement corrective measures. If this is not done, they warn, Tulum could face serious consequences for its ecosystem and for its main source of income: nature tourism.