Inequality in access to water is growing in vulnerable communities and putting the aquifers of the Mexican Caribbean at risk.
The Yucatán Peninsula faces an alarming water paradox. While the luxury tourism sector registers consumption of up to 3,000 liters per guest per day, thousands of families in rural and informal settlements survive on barely 20 liters, often drawn from contaminated or salinized sources.
This contrast represents one of the greatest concerns for civil organizations, since while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a standard of 100 liters per person per day, the reality in the state is fractured into two extremes: a hotel zone with massive demand and municipalities like Felipe Carrillo Puerto or Lázaro Cárdenas, where the lack of electricity and the complete absence of maintenance of pumping systems keep the population in a state of water scarcity.
The crisis is worsening in the informal settlements on the outskirts of Cancún, where an estimated 200,000 residents lack access to sewage systems and treatment facilities. This inequality gap, fueled by urban growth that has outpaced sanitation capacity, is jeopardizing the region’s most important freshwater reserve.
How is this crisis developing?
In this regard, Alejandro López Tamayo, CEO of Centinelas del Agua (Water Sentinels), warned of the lack of adequate infrastructure, which is pushing liquid waste directly into the aquifer and karst systems. He recalled that in the early days of cities, it was common to connect sewage directly to cenotes and caves, a practice whose consequences persist today in contaminated bodies of water.
The environmentalist emphasized that for every hotel room that opens, an estimated five people arrive in the state to meet the demand for services—a population growth that has not been accompanied by equivalent water management planning.
Adding to this problem is the impact of climate change in the southern part of the state; in communities like Laguna Guerrero and Raudales, wells that historically provided fresh water now suffer from saltwater intrusion, falling below current standards for human consumption.
Faced with this scenario, Centinelas del Agua (Water Sentinels) is promoting the “Flagship Communities” model, with the goal that by 2026 the first five communities will achieve 100% access to drinking water and comprehensive sanitation. This initiative will be presented at the upcoming World Water Summit in the United Arab Emirates.
Why is this relevant?
For his part, the Secretary of Ecology and Environment for the State (SEMA), Oscar Rébora Aguilera, highlighted that the average consumption in Quintana Roo is 300 liters per day per inhabitant, double the national average and triple the amount recommended by the WHO.
The official emphasized that, although the state boasts 97.2% potable water coverage, 69% of the resource is linked to the tourism sector, highlighting a critical disparity where a visitor can consume up to 3,000 liters compared to communities that, in extreme cases, have access to barely one liter per day.
Based on this premise, authorities issued an urgent call to ration the vital resource and curb aquifer contamination to guarantee the destination’s sustainability.
The Water Consumption Gap
Luxury Tourism Sector: 3,000 liters per guest/day.
Rural/Informal Communities: 20 liters per person/day.
Extreme Cases: 1 liter per person/day in areas of high poverty.
- Average Consumption Comparison
- Quintana Roo: 300 liters per day per inhabitant.
- National Average: 150 liters per day per inhabitant.
- WHO recommendation: 100 liters per person per day.
Infrastructure and Population
Population without services: 200,000 inhabitants in informal settlements (outskirts of Cancún) without drainage or wastewater treatment.
Impact of growth: For every new hotel room, 5 people move to the state.
Resource distribution: 69% of the water in the state is directly linked to the tourism sector.
Official coverage: 97.2% potable water coverage (contrasts with the lack of sanitation).
Source: SIPSE
