Sinaloa is grappling with a deepening water crisis, and none of the state’s 20 municipalities, including Mazatlán, will be spared from the impacts of the dwindling supply. Sandra Guido Sánchez, executive director of Conselva, Costas y Comunidades, has issued a stark warning that Mazatlán could face irreversible water shortages by 2027 if immediate action is not taken.
The crisis stems from a combination of excessive water demand exceeding reserves, the sedimentation of the Picachos Dam reducing its retention capacity, and minimal rainfall attributed to climate change. Guido Sánchez dismissed the common belief that Mazatlán has a water supply sufficient for 50 years, calling it an “urban legend.” She noted, “We have eight of the eleven aquifers overexploited. In two years, in 2027, we will begin to have serious water problems in Mazatlán.”
The director also pointed to the acute drought of 2021 as a warning of what may come. That year, heavy rainfall from hurricanes Nora and Pamela washed large amounts of sediment into the Picachos Dam, significantly degrading water quality. Residents endured months of mud-contaminated water in their homes.
Although solutions such as reforestation and declaring the Picachos Dam watershed a nature reserve have been proposed, Guido Sánchez criticized the lack of decisive action from municipal, state, and federal authorities. Immediate measures are needed to address the crisis, including green engineering interventions to protect and conserve resources.
The dire situation in Mazatlán highlights the urgent need for sustainable water management and proactive planning to avert what could be an irreversible disaster.
Source: Los Noticieristas
