Playa del Carmen Residents Go Four Days Without Water, Blame Aguakán

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Residents of three residential communities say they have been without running water for four days, and they are blaming Aguakán, the private utility that operates the city’s water system, for failing to deliver a service they say they pay premium prices for.

The affected subdivisions are Villamar I, Villamar II, and Mundo Hábitat. Residents Alicia López, Alex Murillo, Gabriel Morales, Esteban Mendoza, Juan José López, and Carlos Martínez said the outage has forced them to ration water, buy tanker deliveries, and question why they continue to receive full bills.

“We’re paying for the water service but we don’t have it, and you can’t skip a day of paying the bill because they apply fines,” said Alicia López. “We’re tired of the concessionaire stealing from us.”

López said she has been without water since Friday. “I’m rationing the little I have for household chores and for the bathroom, which needs water to avoid chaos. Because of this crisis, I’ve been forced to buy tanker water because it’s essential at home.”

Alex Murillo, a local merchant, said the water arrives in “trickles.” “The water service is a worry because it comes from the pipes in drips. If only the bills got a discount the same way — but no, you pay what you pay.” He also criticized municipal authorities, saying they are “busier promoting concerts with artists of dubious reputation than addressing neighborhood complaints.”

Gabriel Morales, also a merchant, said he has been buying tanker water but acknowledged not everyone can afford it, especially during a summer of extreme heat. “You can’t wait. But the economic situation is complicated.” He went further, saying the crisis reflects government failure: “Aguakán hasn’t met its contractual obligations, and that’s grounds for contract termination.”

Esteban Mendoza, who lives in Villamar II, said he has been without water for three days and his reserve is empty. “The lack of this vital liquid is causing desperation.”

Juan José López accused politicians of making empty promises. “When they’re campaigning, they promise to improve services, but it’s just rhetoric to win votes. Two years after Mayor Estefanía Mercado’s promises, she hasn’t stepped in to make the concessionaire improve its service.”

Carlos Martínez, who has gone four days with only drops of water reaching his home, said the situation has taken a toll. “The tap only produces tiny drops, not enough to fill the storage tank. Every day the problem grows. People are becoming depressed, yet construction of new subdivisions continues. It’s worrying.”