Worsening Water Crisis Sparks Protests in Mexico's Guadalajara

People in Guadalajara, one of Mexico's largest cities, are angry about their water. For years, many families have turned on their taps only to find water that smells bad and looks brown or black. Last weekend, a large protest turned tense when police used water cannons and tear gas on the crowd, injuring dozens and leading to nearly 40 arrests. Now, residents are demanding that the government fix the water problem once and for all.

Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, criticized the police for being too harsh with protesters. She also promised to take a closer look at two water construction projects planned for the area. Even so, more protests are being planned in the coming days. Videos shared on social media show people collecting buckets and jars of murky brown or black water straight from their kitchen faucets.

Guadalajara is home to more than five million people and is located in the western state of Jalisco. It is also Mexico's biggest center for factories and manufacturing. The city's water troubles are part of a bigger problem across Mexico, where many cities struggle to deliver clean, reliable water due to old pipes, pollution, and growing populations.

A study done in June looked at water samples from 184 homes across 90 neighborhoods. Scientists found that more than 93 percent of the samples had no detectable chlorine, which is the chemical used to kill dangerous bacteria in drinking water. The study also found high levels of lead, mercury, nitrates, and a type of bacteria called E. coli, which can signal fecal contamination in water. After finding these results, the group that ran the study called for a public-health alert and independent testing by certified labs.

One protester, Aleida Morales, 54, said the water at her home has often been cloudy and brown for at least 15 years. She said many people have come out to protest because they feel that Guadalajara's economic growth — including hosting World Cup games this year — has come at the cost of protecting the environment. She remembered that her grandparents once described local rivers and waterfalls as a "paradise." Today, she said, those same rivers are sources of toxic pollution.

Guadalajara sits inside a large river system called the Lerma-Santiago watershed, which is one of Mexico's most polluted. The area has long suffered from industrial waste, untreated sewage, and fast-growing cities that put pressure on waterways. In July, President Sheinbaum and Mexico's environment secretary launched a 20-billion-peso program — about $1.09 billion — to try to clean up the Lerma-Santiago basin and two other heavily polluted river systems.

Allan Tejeda, an environmental engineering expert at the University of Guadalajara, said the crisis is the result of problems that have built up over many years. He pointed to untreated wastewater, illegal dumping, rapid urban growth, and a long history of not spending enough money on water treatment systems. He said existing treatment plants are simply not built to handle the level of pollution entering the water supply. "These issues have never received the attention they require," Tejeda said.

A Mexican rights group called the National Assembly for Water, Life, and Territory stood in support of the protesters. The group called for "a real, comprehensive and verifiable solution" to Guadalajara's water crisis. They stated that access to clean water is not a gift from the government or something only wealthy people deserve. "It is indispensable for life, health, food, work and the survival of our communities," they said.