The work to place the new one took SIMAPA workers two days. Photo: Ramón Ramírez.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The sewage leak at the end of Niños Héroes Street, a few meters from the boardwalk, was finally repaired by personnel from the Municipal System of Potable Water and Sewage (SIMAPA Ajijic) after a year and half of leaks. 

The water main, which had been leaking for over 18 months, took two days to  repair;  the work began last Monday, February 14, and concluded the next day. The workers found that the   problem was the collector, which collapsed just a few meters from the manhole.

SIMAPA Ajijic Director Timoteo Aldana Perez said  that it was a hard work for the agency employees, who from day 1 worked from early in the morning until approximately 11 at night to remove the broken collector -which was at a depth of approximately 2.5 meters-, and install  a new one, as well as drain the pipes.

Aldana Pérez explained that it took time to replace the pipe due to its weight  and because of the soil that had leaked, causing the pipe to break. They also had to clean the debris  in the pipe which included shoes, clothes and sanitary napkins; in addition to connecting the PVC pipe with the concrete one.

«We hope it will no longer cause inconvenience. Now that it has been  opened for the first time we realized that the collectors are very old.  They have at least 30 years of use but they are in good condition and could last up to five or six more years.  Even  so, the municipal authorities should take action to modify the collector,”  he said.

The repair was welcomed by residents of the delegation who, through social networks, applauded the initiative of SIMAPA workers to solve the problem that has plagued them since 2020. 

Timoteo Aldana also  thanked the workers and I announced that they will continue with the maintenance and drainage  of the collector on an annual basis, to avoid further sewage spillage.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan