Fecal waste contaminates sinkholes, drinking wells in Mexico's Yucatan, Greenpeace says

MEXICO CITY —Water from wells and sinkholes in Mexico's Yucatan state that residents use for drinking is contaminated with fecal bacteria, according to a Greenpeace report published on Tuesday, which said nearby pig farms and municipal wastewater were likely sources.

Greenpeace called for an immediate moratorium on new industrial livestock operations and farm expansions in the state, home to the ancient Maya civilization.

"A range of chemical and microbiological indicators reveal a complex mosaic of severe, localized organic pollution," it said.

Greenpeace commissioned an independent laboratory to test water at 17 sites near the state capital Merida in August. The sites included household and farm wells, community water points and cenotes, the natural sinkholes that dot the Yucatan peninsula, one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations.

According to the report, every sample showed some degree of contamination likely linked to fecal waste, and several sites appeared heavily polluted. Total coliform bacteria reached the test's upper limit in 16 of 17 samples, and fecal coliforms did so in 13.

However, the tests cannot show whether the waste came from people or animals, and leaking septic tanks and municipal sewage may also contribute to contamination. Greenpeace said the results raise "critical accountability questions" about nearby pig farms.

The Yucatan state government was not available for comment, while Mexico's national water commission, CONAGUA, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Merida's Association of Pig Farmers also did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

With no above-ground rivers, groundwater is the Yucatan's only freshwater source, and the area's porous limestone bedrock allows pollutants to quickly seep down into the aquifer. The report said about 30% of local residents drink water drawn directly from wells and sinkholes.

Greenpeace, citing its 2020 survey, said only 22 of 257 pig farms in Yucatan had an environmental impact study in place. It also found 43 such farms operating inside protected natural areas.

A UN report published in July found that there are over 500 industrial pig farms across Yucatan state with over 50,000 animals, many located near the lands and territories of Indigenous Peoples.

Marcos Orellana, the former UN Special Rapporteur who authored the report, said waste and chemicals from industrial farms "find their way very quickly" to water that communities use for bathing, cooking and drinking. He said most farms lack required permits and that regional government initiatives "remain insufficient."

"The contamination of the waters that have sustained Mayan culture for millennia is predominantly coming from the industrial operations of the growth of animals," Orellana said.

But Antonio Zumarraga, vice president of the Yucatan Citizen Scientific Water Observatory, defended the local pork industry, saying the sector has invested in water treatment and supports conservation programs. He blamed local authorities for lack of action.

"It's an issue that, as long as it doesn't carry political weight for the government, they won't do anything about it," Zumarraga said. —Reuters