Water Supply Chaos in Playa del Carmen – Construction Mishap Causes Massive Disruption

A construction mishap by Ingenieros Civiles Asociados (ICA) has resulted in a significant disruption to Playa del Carmen's primary drinking water supply. ICA, who are currently working on the South 5 section of the Maya Train, inadvertently caused a break in the main water pipeline. As a result, several areas reported a complete loss of their water supply.

The incident took place around 11 am at the intersection of Juarez avenue extension and the railway pass, which runs from Playa del Carmen to Tulum. Eyewitnesses reported that a piece of heavy machinery equipped with a hammer drill accidentally fractured the main pipeline carrying drinking water to Playa del Carmen.

By noon, Aguakan, the water concessionaire, had intervened to halt the flow of water through the damaged pipeline. Despite their efforts, a significant amount of water had already escaped, causing severe flooding at the intersection. Meanwhile, reports began to emerge from the urban area of the county seat of Solidaridad about the water cutoff, which had a direct impact on both homes and businesses.

Aguakan later issued an official statement regarding the incident. They explained, "We were directly notified by I.C.A about the damage to our infrastructure… they informed us that they hit and broke a section of the 30” inch drinking water line. This necessitates the shutdown of our wells in the catchment area, as well as several measures to reduce the flood levels." Aguakan anticipates that repair work will be completed by Saturday, but warns that reduced water pressure may persist throughout the day.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In April 2023, ICA workers accidentally drilled into the same pipeline just a few meters from the current break, causing a widespread water cutoff for several hours. Work on the South 5 section has recently accelerated, with the aim of completing the project before the end of the current federal term. This is the same section where environmentalists have raised concerns about the destruction of caves and cenotes.