SIMAPA personnel repairing well number 4. Photo: Sofía Medeles 

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- At least half of the town of Ajijic was left without water for approximately one week, due to an electrical failure that caused the pump of well number 4, located in Villa Nova, to the west of the delegation, to break down.

Timoteo Aldana Pérez, head of the Municipal System of Potable Water and Sewage (SIMAPA) Ajijic,  stated that this was due to an electrical failure in the plant of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), which affected two pumps, one in Chapala and the one in Ajijic.

«The low voltage that was being sent shut down the two meter-tall, 125 horsepower pump at 7:00 am and we were notified at 11:00 at night. None of our nearby suppliers had a replacement , so we had to order it from  Monterrey, which is why the repair was delayed,» explained Aldana Pérez.

 Timoteo said this pump supplies at least half of Ajijic, from the neighborhood of Las Seis Esquinas, a part of El Tempisque and even the cemetery. Besides, being one of the largest pumps, it is used to send water to other parts of town when they need it, a process called “rebombing”.

The people in the affected areas complained about the lack of water, since it took them by surprise. One interviewee, named Sara, expressed her desperation during the last few days of drought, as the water in her tinaco ran out: «They can’t keep us like this for so long. Water is vital, and it is a service we pay for. Besides, they didn’t  tell us about the water supplies they were handing out. Very poorly planned.

Areas such as La Canacinta, La Cristina or Alceseca were also affected, because not everyone has a water tank at home, as is the case of José: «We have a water tank, but the water there is different from the tap water. The tap water, we put it in drums and water tanks, and that is what we usually use.  The water from the cistern is not dirty, but it has  some fish so we use it for other things. But this time we had to use it because there was no water for a long time. It did affect us, because our reserve is less than half full.

Water pipe supplying water in the western zone of Ajijic. Photo: Sofía Medeles

Regarding the water supplies, several citizens commented on SIMAPA’s bad communication, because they were never notified that the trucks would be going to the homes, nor on what days and at what times, or that they were free of charge.

«They only asked if we wanted water, but never said anything else, we did not know it was free, and some neighbors were not there. Supposedly it was delivered in two days, but we only heard about one,» commented Luis, who lives near the cemetery area.

Timoteo Aldana said that he hopes that people will become aware of the care and responsible use of water, because times have changed and it is not only the growth of the town, but also several other factors that lower the levels of the wells.

«The water is enough for Ajijic, but we must always take care of the levels of the wells. In some of them, the water is only enough to cover their area, something that did not happen before. We also have to be aware of the water levels, because the lower they are, the more heavy metals and impurities are concentrated, which make them unsuitable for drinking water. In these times, we have to use it for the most essential things, leaving aside gardens, swimming pools, etc.».

He assured that he is looking for strategies to regulate the use, especially in times of low water, and to make a more equitable distribution of the water  for the town. Finally, he asked the inhabitants for prudence to avoid reaching an irreversible point, and pay their bills on time as SIMAPA has the   tools for its work.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan