The Director of SIMAPA said that they are looking into the case to sanction those responsible, and they will reconnect the pipe
The illegal sewage discharge has been affecting the neighbors of Río Zula for at least two years. Photo: Sofía Medeles.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Sewage spilling into Lake Chapala on Río Zula street, located on the west side of the Ajijic, has troubled neighbors, and visitors to the waterfront area.
Neighbors confirm that the pipe has been constantly discharging sewage into the lake for more than two years, and that in the season when the water level rises, it is even more noticeable.
«It has been like this for a long time. Tourists sometimes come here to the store and mention the bad smell, and the strange color of the water. It is very bad that people are dumping sewage,» said a woman who lives in the affected area. «When the lake rises, that is when it is most noticeable, and more filth collects on the shore. Not only does it smell bad, but it also contaminates and can harm those who come down, even the dogs and cats that hang out there. Many of us who live around here go down there to walk, and it’s really sad to see all the garbage, and to have to deal with the bad smell emanating from the sewage,» said Aurora, another neighbor of Río Zula.
Another neighbor, Andrés, said that it is uncomfortable to be there, and that before the level of the lake covered the pipe, he could see how the discharges ran from higher up into the lake. «It not only smells bad and affects the ecosystem, SIMAPA should consider that sometimes people come here to fish, or tourists go into the lake. It is a source of infection and disease, and the owners of the house that do this, only think of themselves. We have never known who the owners are, but we hope they will be sanctioned soon.»
The Director of the Municipal System of Potable Water and Sewage (SIMAPA) of Ajijic, Timoteo Aldana Pérez, commented that, although it is not a recurrent problem, it is within his authority to cancel water service,and issue fines in these types of cases. «This type of problem is seen more in San Antonio Tlayacapan and Riberas del Pilar; rarely in Ajijic, but if you know of any, you should report it to the SIMAPA office. Here we will take care of issuing fines, or charging to connect to the drainage system appropriately,» he shared.
Aldana Perez acknowledged that he was not aware of the existence of this pipe, but that he will review it within the next few days. «One good thing is that Ajijic’s collection pipe runs along the shore of the lake, so it is easier to connect it to the pipe, unlike the systems of other towns,» he added.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
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