Mexico: Hunt down water traffickers in drought-stricken areas

A hunt for traffickers who divert water from pipes has been launched in several regions of Mexico affected by drought and shortages, local authorities have announced.

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This is particularly the case in the state of Nuevo Leon (North), whose large million inhabitants of the capital Monterrey have been subject to rationing since the beginning of June, with running water six hours a day, four at ten in the morning.

The governor, Samuel Garcia, denounced the existence of clandestine aqueducts to divert the precious liquid to private properties.

“

” declared the young governor on his Twitter account on Tuesday.

1800 water diversions in Hidalgo

This hunt will allow from Thursday for at least a week to increase the water distribution schedule by one hour, added the 34-year-old governor, criticized by his opponents for his pronounced taste for communication.

Water diversion is akin to fuel theft, a practice known throughout Mexico as “

”.

Criminal groups perforate oil pipelines to extract and resell fuel clandestinely.

“

,” promised the governor.

In the state of Hidalgo (Center), the authorities also mentioned 1,800 water diversions in May.

Residents of the state capital, Pachuca, said thieves are emptying cisterns meant for domestic supply.

“

,” testified a resident during a neighborhood meeting.

Problems of access to drinking water have affected several regions of Mexico (126 million inhabitants) for years, both for infrastructure problems and for lack of rain.

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In the municipality of Iztapalapa, the largest entity in the capital, Mexico City (1.8 million inhabitants), the authorities have already rationed water and sent emergency trucks.