Politics · Mexico · 4 hrs ago
Jalisco to close Las Pintas reservoir as it plans water system upgrades
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus announced the closure of Las Pintas reservoir and water rotation in the Guadalajara metropolitan area to keep contaminated water from reaching homes.
Lake Chapala supplies 60% of Guadalajara’s water, while the city also receives water from the El Zapotillo system.
An old open channel bringing water from Chapala to Las Pintas can lose up to half its flow through evaporation and is exposed to contaminated discharges.
Jalisco plans to invest more than 8 billion pesos in water treatment and supply improvements, including collectors to control wastewater and an upgrade to the Miravalle treatment plant.
The state says the spending will not involve debt, privatization or higher water bills.
The plant’s first stage is due in March 2027, with the full project expected within two years.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus announced that the Las Pintas reservoir will be closed as work advances to improve water quality in the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
The plan includes rotating clean water supplies and building collectors to keep contaminated wastewater from reaching the reservoir.
Jalisco will invest more than 8 billion pesos in water system improvements, with no new debt, privatization or water tariff increase, Lemus said.
The work is intended to address contamination and decades of accumulated strain on water infrastructure.
- Who
- Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus announced the measures.
- What
- The state plans to close the Las Pintas reservoir and upgrade water infrastructure, including through a clean-water rotation scheme.
- When
- Lemus announced the measures in a report published on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- Las Pintas reservoir and the Guadalajara metropolitan area, Jalisco, Mexico.
- Why
- To improve water quality and prevent contaminated water from reaching homes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Miravalle water treatment plant faced poor water quality after sediment arrived from Las Pintas, and authorities reduced flow through the old system.
The federal and Jalisco governments announced a water plan.
Lemus announced the planned Las Pintas closure, water rotation measures and infrastructure investment.
- Planned investment
- More than 8 billion pesos
- Las Pintas old-system flow
- 2.5 cubic metres per second before the March reduction
- March flow reduction
- From 2.5 to 1.5 cubic metres per second
- Chapala’s share
- 60% of the water supplied to the Guadalajara metropolitan area
What people are saying
I have to face up and solve the water problem
People have reason to be upset