Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro stated that the operation of the Solís Dam in Guanajuato, which is part of the National Water Plan, would put Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest lake, which supplies 60 percent of the metropolitan area, at risk. He is therefore reconsidering its construction.
“I want to respectfully express my concern and the concern of the people of Jalisco regarding this announced project for the Solís Dam aqueduct to León, Guanajuato. Once the Solís Dam reaches its upper limits, outflows flow into Chapala. There have been 15 of these in the last 20 years, meaning it is very important for the maintenance of Chapala,” he stated.
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Before the Secretary of Agriculture, Julio Berdegué, as well as federal and local representatives; Senators and officials from the National Water Commission (Conagua), Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro, requested that a dialogue table be established where Jalisco is considered.
“We want to request that this aqueduct to the city of León be reconsidered, because it would put Chapala, Mexico’s largest lake, at risk. That’s why we’re calling for a dialogue table to build working agreements, which is what we want in Jalisco,” he said.
The Jalisco government also requested information from Conagua about the impact of the Solís Dam on the water supply to the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.
A little more about the Solís Dam in Guanajuato
The project could begin operations in 2029 if construction begins in 2025. It is projected to have the capacity to supply five key municipalities in the state: León, Silao, Celaya, Salamanca, and Irapuato.
Guanajuato has already announced that construction will begin in September of this year on the first phase of the 140-kilometer aqueduct, bringing water from the Solís Dam, located in Acámbaro, to León and the Silao industrial corridor.
Source: milenio
