Holbox Water Crisis Enters 5th Day as Repairs Stall

Holbox, Lázaro Cárdenas — The island of Holbox has now endured five consecutive days without regular potable water service due to two leaks in the distribution network connecting it to the mainland town of Chiquilá. The disruption has severely impacted families, businesses, and the local tourism sector.

Infrastructure Failures Worsen Crisis

The first rupture was detected in an underground pipeline. While technicians from the State Water and Sewer Commission (CAPA) worked on repairs, they discovered a second leak—this time in the 10-inch submarine aqueduct that directly supplies the island.

Carlos Abraham Dzul Hoyos, CAPA’s regional manager, confirmed that specialized divers are required to address the submarine breach. However, no completion date has been set for the repairs.

Emergency Measures Strain Businesses

With the water supply cut off, authorities are relying on tanker trucks to distribute water. Families are receiving the resource free of charge, but hotels, restaurants, and other businesses must pay approximately 2,000 pesos per 1,000 liters—a cost that has sparked frustration among tourism operators.

“This is unsustainable. We’re in peak season and cannot continue operating under these conditions,” said one affected business owner.

Environmental and Health Concerns Raised

Local activist Juan Manuel Rico Santana warned of escalating sanitary and ecological risks due to improvised water storage and generator use during the outage.

Recurring Problem Highlights Systemic Vulnerabilities

This marks at least the third prolonged water service interruption in Holbox over the past year. The repeated crises underscore the fragility of the island’s hydraulic infrastructure amid rising tourism demand, with no long-term solutions implemented to date.