Politics · Mexico · 2 hrs ago
Jalisco lawmakers oppose plan for second Chapala-Guadalajara aqueduct
A coalition of lawmakers in Jalisco says it will vote against the proposed aqueduct linking Lake Chapala to Guadalajara.
The project, put forward by Governor Pablo Lemus, would build a second aqueduct to supply the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
The coalition says a private company could build, maintain and operate the infrastructure, raising concerns that water services could be privatized.
Lemus denies that the plan would privatize drinking water, create public debt or raise user bills, and says the state would retain control of the service.
He estimates the project would cost 11.922 billion pesos and involve public and private financing.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has questioned the financing model and called for a joint technical solution to water contamination that avoids privatization.
The proposal is before the Jalisco Congress for review and possible approval, with the coalition’s lawmakers saying they will oppose it.
A Jalisco legislative coalition says it will vote against Governor Pablo Lemus’s proposal to build a second Chapala-Guadalajara aqueduct.
The coalition argues that the proposed financing could lead to private control of the drinking-water service.
The plan would involve a private company in building, maintaining, operating and rehabilitating infrastructure to supply the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.
Lemus says the project would not privatize water service, create public debt or increase user tariffs.
The proposal, estimated to cost 11.922 billion pesos, has been submitted to the Jalisco Congress for consideration.
- Who
- A coalition of Morena, Hagamos, Futuro and the Labor Party says it will oppose the proposal. Governor Pablo Lemus supports it.
- What
- The proposal is to build a second Chapala-Guadalajara aqueduct using a financing model involving public and private resources.
- When
- The coalition announced its opposition in an article published on October 16, 2026. Claudia Sheinbaum questioned the financing scheme on October 12.
- Where
- Jalisco, Mexico, with the aqueduct intended to supply the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.
- Why
- The coalition says the financing model could lead to privatization of the water service. Lemus says the project would not privatize the service.
Jalisco legislative coalition
Governor Pablo Lemus
Financing and service
Jalisco legislative coalition
The coalition says private participation in construction, maintenance, operation and rehabilitation could make water supply subject to commercial interests.
Governor Pablo Lemus
Lemus says the project would not privatize drinking-water supply and that the state would retain control of the service.
Project effects
Jalisco legislative coalition
The coalition says it will vote against the proposal.
Governor Pablo Lemus
Lemus says the project would not create public debt or increase user tariffs.
Claudia Sheinbaum questioned the financing scheme presented by the Jalisco government.
A coalition of Jalisco lawmakers announced it would vote against the aqueduct proposal.
- Estimated investment
- 11,922 million pesos
- Proposed project
- Second Chapala-Guadalajara aqueduct
- Coalition members
- Morena, Hagamos, Futuro and the Labor Party
- Legislators in video
- 15
- Jalisco governor
- Pablo Lemus Navarro
What people are saying
We will not allow any business under the protection of power or the privatization of water
There are financing schemes that can lead to the private operation of water