....But this year there is another component: Sewage from the town pump station has been pumped directly into the lagoon since February of this year at a rate of 10-15,000 gallons per day. The diversion into the lagoon was made by the municipality and Ejido because the pipeline to the treatment plant had been crushed during construction of the new overpass near the entrance to La Manz. Sewage was surfacing in town and the odor was unbearable, so they had to take emergency (temporary) action. ....Since then, analysis by a team of volunteer engineers from the US revealed that the pumps are now incapable of pushing the wastewater to the plant, even with a new pipeline. Impellers are severely worn, and some electrical components are malfunctioning. Repairs were postponed because the municipality was waiting for grant funds promised by state and federal sources to completely rebuild the pumping system, but the effort has evidently fallen through since the elections.
....My 30+ years of public health training say that health risks from the lagoon discharge are somewhat reduced by the tremendous dilution from rainwater, but the risks are still VERY substantial as long as the town continues to use the lagoon as a sewage pond. Nor is it healthy for the wildlife which depend on a healthy lagoon for survival.
I recommend that folks and tourists be made aware that sewage is going directly to the lagoon, then the beach and floodwaters along the beach road. Then each can make his/her own decision whether to go for a swim, or wade down the road ...or a kayak through the dark water. My advice is to avoid water contact until the lagoon closes again and the sea has a chance to dilute contaminated water (two or three weeks).
The solution as recommended by the engineers is to support creation of an active Ejido/Municipal level sewer committee authorized and accountable to take actions and charge fees to properly maintain a sewer system. Also as a priority, to immediately rehab the pumps one at a time (maximum 40,000 pesos each) and to quickly remove the sand from the pump station. Until these steps are taken, the contamination will continue, and the health of our community will remain at elevated risk.
Sorry for this long rant, but I love our little town, and I want it to be a healthy place for our families.
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