Quintana Roo Governor Calls for Shared Responsibility in Water Conservation on World Water Day

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa marked World Water Day with a strong call to protect water as a vital resource for development, emphasizing that the state hosts one of the planet’s most valuable and vulnerable hydrological systems.

During a commemorative address, she stressed that water in Quintana Roo is not just a natural resource but an essential part of its identity, sustaining unique ecosystems like cenotes, underground rivers, lagoons, and wetlands that support both communities and tourism in the Mexican Caribbean.

“Water conservation is a shared responsibility between government, society, and productive sectors. Protecting every drop means protecting the aquifer that provides drinking water to our population, the cenotes that support tourism, and the ecosystems that make Quintana Roo unique,” Lezama said.

The governor emphasized that safeguarding the karst aquifer—one of the world’s most valuable and vulnerable water systems—is a priority for her administration, describing it as a strategic source for social well-being, economic development, and environmental preservation.

She reported that Quintana Roo has robust water infrastructure including 30 wastewater treatment plants, 157 pumping stations, and over 3,700 kilometers of sewer networks.

Óscar Rébora Aguilera, head of the Secretariat of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), added that the state also has 769 extraction wells, four desalination plants, and approximately 7,500 kilometers of water distribution and conduction networks.

He noted that urban drinking water coverage exceeds 90 percent, achieved through coordinated efforts between agencies including the Potable Water and Sewer Commission (CAPA), the National Water Commission (Conagua), and SEMA.

As part of the commemoration, SEMA will promote a series of activities to foster water conservation awareness, including an educational stand at the Yok’ol Kab planetarium, the First Water Festival at CECYTE Cancún 1, a lagoon cleanup in Bacalar, discussions on water and gender with CAPA and Unicaribe, and educational outreach for elementary students.

“When we protect water, we also protect the future and social justice for everyone,” Lezama concluded.