Jumapam in Deep Water with Frustrated Colonias

It’s been a long, hot summer so far for residents of some of Mazatlán’s colonias who have been without a steady water supply for months, and they are taking their grievances against the city water department to the streets.

On Friday a group of approximately 60 women from the colonia Valles de Ejido marched from their homes to the Carretera Internacional al Norte, one of the city’s main exit routes, where they set up a blockade at 10am, causing a traffic backup which stretched for miles.

Shouting “We want water, we want Dante,” referring to Dante Arturo Gonzaléz Salas, head of Jumapam, they protested that their colonia has been without water for three months, that the bathrooms in local schools are unusable and they have to wait for rain to collect water for basic necessities.

When Gonzaléz Salas did not arrive to talk to the protesters, an hour later they blockaded the southbound lanes bringing all traffic to a halt.

Finally, at 11:40am a beleaguered Gonzaléz Salas arrived to talk to the protesters. He promised them water would be diverted to their colonia, but explained it would be at the expense of other areas. Water supply would have to be alternated between the Valles de Ejido and other colonias, but when asked which other colonias would be effected he was unable to specify.

He explained that 34 of 43 transformers have either been stolen or are out of commission and without transformers water cannot be pumped through the pipes.

Neighbours in the colonia Prado del Sol announced they, too, were considering a street protest to draw attention to the long water draught they have been suffering. As one colonia resident complained, “We have no water but we still receive the bills.”

Intermittent water supply has also been reported in inner city communities, such as Lomas de Mazatlán, Lomas del Mar and El Centro.

Mayor elect, Alejandro Higuera who takes office at the end of this year, has told the local media that one of his primary objectives is to complete the Presa Picacho project which will alleviate Mazatlán’s chronic water supply problems. He assured the media that he has Governor elect Mario Lopez Valdez’s support in this endeavour.

In the meantime, the ladies of colonia Valles de Ejido have warned that if water is not flowing soon in their neighbourhood, they will continue the protest.

(from files and Noroeste)