water
Challenges
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The lack of financial funds.
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Poor regulatory framework for water management.
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To disseminate complex scientific knowledge in simple terms so that everyone is able to understand it and incorporate it into their daily lives.
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Deficit of hydraulic infrastructure appropriate for the sustainable management of water resources, e.g., the lack of connection to drainage in some municipalities, and a lack of interest from part of the population to connect to the drain.
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Lack of knowledge among the population about the importance of the conservation of water resources in the peninsula.
Actions
general
The generation of a hydrogeological model of the Micro-watershed of Tulum, with climate change scenarios.
The quantification of the economic value of Quintana Roo's underground water-source to support the protection and preservation of water resources.
Environmental education campaigns: Eres Agua, Toma Conciencia y Buen día Selva.
Revision of the Best practices guide for the conservation and sustainable use of caves, caverns, caves and cenotes (Guía para mejores prácticas para la conservación y uso sustentable de cuevas, cavernas, grutas y cenotes).
The review of the user manual for the Operation of Waste Water by Activated Sludge Treatment Plants.
Promotion of the connection to drainage in the municipalities of Bacalar and Solidaridad.
Making a transition to sustainable technologies in Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Tulum.
Promoting the conservation of rainforests through the payment for environmental services (Environmental Services Fund).
water supply
We have characterized the geohydrologic subregions that generate environmental services in regards to water from the northern region of Quintana Roo in order to identify regions that offer the best natural conditions to maintain the current water supply of the city of Cancun and to promote its conservation.
water culture
In partnership with the Water Supply and Sewage Commission (CAPA) we organized the¨Itineran Water Culture Space¨, in order to reach the entire state´s geography, including remote rural communities in order to generate knowledge through workshops and talks in Maya and Spanish, to address regional issues focused on the care and use of water and its relation to the environment. We gave more than 200 talks and workshops, benefiting over 9,000 children, youths and adults in the municipalities of Othon P. Blanco, Bacalar, José María Morelos, Tulum and Benito Juarez.
Photo: Henrick Farías
research
We continue with the characterization of the aquifer dynamics that Amigos de Sian Ka’an has been developing for more than five years in collaboration with researchers from the Geological Survey of Austria (SGA) and the Technical University of Denmark (UTD).
There have been continuous monitoring activities of the groundwater levels in the area of Tulum Municipality by performing electrical conductivity profiles in wells, natural sinkholes (cenotes) and lagoons in the area, as well as data collection positioning (GPS) and its piezometry.
The results of this monitoring are useful for the construction of a water monitoring network and the local modeling of the groundwater flow in Tulum, which also allows us to generate quality scientific information to help steer policy
development among the local authorities while taking into consideration the local hydrogeology when decisions are made.
Sink holes (cenotes) census
We conducted the first census of the natural sinkholes (cenotes) of Quintana Roo and analyzed the existing databases of cenotes in the three states of the Yucatan Peninsula. Based upon analysis of satellite imagery and field survey data, there are 5,313 records for geo-referenced cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula.
sewer connection
We carried out the first campaign to promote the sanitary sewer connection in Tulum in collaboration with the Tulum Basin Committee (CCT) and the Water Supply and Sewerage Commission of Quintana Roo (CAPA). The campaign aimed to inform and sensitize the inhabitants of the neighborhood of Maya Pax, on the importance of household connections to the drain, to get them to accept the technical support that will be provided and to also offer them a support scheme to cover the costs of making the connections.
Accomplishments
water supply
Exploration of 147sqr miles of the watershed of Tulum through electromagnetic aerial mapping.
The approximate download time of pollutants that flow through the system Ox Bel has been determined.
Active participation in the processes of design, review and modification of the General water law and the NOM-001.
Guía de Mejores prácticas para uso sustentable de cuevas, cavernas, grutas y cenotes y el Manual de Plantas de Tratamiento de Aguas residuales.
Best practices for sustainable use of caves, caverns, caves and cenotes guide, and the Manual of wastewater treatment plants.
There have been published five research papers on electromagnetic mapping and modelling of the aquifer of Tulum.
The creation of “Grupo Promotor de Conexión al Drenaje en el municipio de Solidaridad” was promoted.
Workshops to schools, hotels and government teaching our water conservation program "Eres agua, ¡Toma Conciencia!" reaching around 54,409 personas.
