Jaltemba Bay Faces Critical Pollution Crisis
Tara A. Spears
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the toxic burning from the town landfill and the condemned municipal water well. Coastal Nayarit has a wonderful combination of beautiful scenery, friendly people and Pacific Ocean sunsets- truly it’s a slice of paradise!
Even with the global life-style changes due to the Covid pandemic, rampant new construction of hotels and bungalows continues in Los Ayala, Guayabitos and La Penita. In the 15 years that I have lived here fulltime the size and population of the community has doubled but the only services that appear to have kept pace with the expansion are the profit making companies TelMex Telephone and CFE electric company. Hmmm, why haven’t the municipal services of sewer, water, waste management doubled their operation to keep up with increased usage? One would think that the agency issuing building permits would be aware of the need to expand the infrastructure at the same pace.
Sadly, the situation has reached crisis level with the landfill spewing toxic smoke for the seventh day. Until there is proof that government is working to relocate the landfill and replace the bacteria infected water, I’m going to complain. Fact: in 2014 the Mexican health authorities condemned the well in Guayabitos. Yep, SEVEN years ago and all of us that live here are bathing in crappy brown water. I am tired of getting bacterial skin infections and having to replace plumbing because it clogs from the inside due to heavy metals and rust.
For seven years I have gone into the state water/waste management office (SIAPA) to nicely ask for an update on a new water source. For seven years I get zero information from the management of SIAPA: “Senora, it’s complicated, go home, we’ll fix it.” I have signed petitions to lend support to those who are trying to change this unacceptable situation.
Residents, such as dedicated environmental activists Cristobal Araujo and Juan Gonzalez of Jaltemba TV, are spearheading response to the intolerable situation. I realize that government moves slowly but people are frustrated at the lack of solution. I have survived long-term exposure to the polluted water but now for the double health whammy: toxic air quality.
People come to Jaltemba Bay to enjoy the climate and sea breeze. But, I am writing this from inside my house with the windows closed because the filthy air coming due east of Guayabitos is producing so much smog it has obliterated the sun! I can’t sit in my yard or do anything outside because it’s an instant headache, my eyes water, and I start gasping for air. Yes, people are getting sick from toxic chemicals in the air. Just imagine the detrimental effects to area children that are being exposed during their formative years. Frightening. Jaltemba Bay already has an excessive amount of female cancers; you can’t tell me this ongoing pollution of tainted water, overflowing waste water treatment and the years of landfill burning aren’t a factor.
Cristobal Araujo reported that “the compacted garbage accumulated over 21 years has reached heights of 25-30 meters. It is estimated that there are around 700,000 CUBIC METERS OF COMPACTED GARBAGE from the entire coastline of the municipality of Compostela. According to GIRRSA data, Guayabitos alone has 100 tons (of trash) that are deposited per day when we are at 100% occupancy.” Since 2001, there have been six serious fires that last more than 1 week recorded: the last two were in 2019 and the current one that started last Friday, 11 June, 2021.
No more excuses from those that are responsible for operating these vital services. Government money was appropriated for the new water well in 2015- where is the clean water? There was a showy media event 2016 when the new landfill was approved- why isn’t it operational? I’m begging the owners of the area businesses to demand action before it becomes necessary to post warning signs for visitors:
Landfill management will always be a significant issue for communities that don’t embrace recycling, reuse, and reduce waste strategies. By incorporating recycling systems for plastics, metal, paper, electronics waste, and glass, municipalities can significantly reduce landfill waste. Reducing the demand for manufactured products also reduces the volume of waste and toxicity levels in landfills. That translates to avoiding wastage, rethinking our consumption needs, reusing products, and respecting the planet by living environmentally cautious lives.
Concerned individuals should contact Cristobal Araujo to learn more about the situation. You can support the Jaltemba Bay Environmental Surveillance group who is working to resolve the pollution issues. There is a protest walk planned for Sunday, June 20 at 10 am. Bring your Mexican visa/some form of photo id in order to sign petition. Meet at the Guayabitos Pemex.
All of us who love Jaltemba Bay deserve a healthy environment. If something isn’t done immediately people will stop coming. Who wants to travel to a place where you can’t see the island because of the toxic smog? Clean water and clean air are basic rights to life. Clean water and clean air need to once again be part of Jaltemba Bay.
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