Enrique Alfaro delivered to Governor-elect Pablo Lemus the report of actions carried out during this administration to revive the Santiago River
The Governor of the State, Enrique Alfaropresented this day a cash cut of the work carried out in this six-year term to begin the sanitation of the Santiago River. These actions that began from the first day of the administration, had an investment of 7 thousand 333 million pesos (mdp) and improvements in water quality are already beginning to be seen. At the end of the report, Alfaro Ramirez delivered to the Governor Elected Pablo Lemus the results of these works.
You might be interested in: Explosion reported at Banco Azteca ATM due to apparent explosive device
“This is what we did for six years and it fills us with pride to be able to deliver results and demonstrate that what we committed to doing was not a campaign speech, nor a statement of intentions but a clear commitment to not fail the people and the people of Jalisco,” said Alfaro.
“We began the process of recovering the river and I say it with great pride, we have started it and we must finish it, and I have discussed this issue with the next Governor, I believe that his commitment is just as clear and it seems to me that the best way to Closing this cycle is precisely by delivering the work that we have done also with the help of your team, with the help of specialized civil society, with the help of specialists, academics, the effort of six years and a work guide for what follows,” he confirmed.
In this strategy, announced the Governorthey were destined 6 mil 725 mdp for sanitation and health, with 20 treatment plants including operation and maintenance; 59 kilometers of collectors; 20 stations water quality monitoring; desilting and control of aquatic weeds and was put into operation 4 hospitals in the area with specialties in kidney treatments. Likewise, they were 608 million pesos in the environmental and social agenda with management of protected natural areas, waste management; programs to combat climate change and social infrastructure, such as community centers, communication routes, public and educational spaces.
With the above, more than 32.13 million m wastewater, which implies sanitation coverage that went from 64 to 75 percent.
“The decision that I made and I assume that decision with the good and the bad, the decision that I made was that we had to start with two urgent work fronts, the first being sanitation, that is, stopping contaminated water from entering the river. , that was priority number one and priority number two was to address the public health problem that had been generated,” said the president.
As a result of these actions, water quality has decreased indicators. In the upper part of the basin, 7 points with improvements are observed, in the passage of the river through the AMG, There will be conclusive results of improvement from the entry into operation of the El Ahogado plant, a decrease in the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the Derivadora Dam El Salto – Juanacatlán.
Previously, chemical control was used, now it is handled differently, through manual and mechanical methods, removing 370 mil m3 of aquatic weeds and strengthening the water quality laboratory, increasing analysis time, biosafety and
“The challenge will be precisely to be able to treat the other discharge points in the Huentitán ravine in this part of the Santiago River,” he added.
With what we did we managed to treat the 75 percent of wastewater from the basins, which will do Pablo Lemus We can reach 99 percent and then we will be in another very different moment in the reality of our river,” he said before the Elected Governor, Pablo Lemus.
“What has to be understood is that we started the sanitation process, the river has not been cleaned and there is still much to do, but having started, not having been another government that will go down in history for having remained immobile, for having ignored the problem and having avoided the responsibility of doing the works that I always say, are not visible, are not necessarily for applause, they are tubes, they are plants in the middle of nowhere, tubes that are buried, but these are the works that change our reality,” explained Alfaro.
For its part, Margaret Sierra, secretariat of Planning and Citizen Participation, indicated on the comprehensive strategy of the participatory design process, framing the actions carried out and future towards the strengthening and guarantee of the Human Rights.
“We consolidated the comprehensive strategy and long-term focus, a strategy that the Governor managed, investment in sanitation, investment in health, and really the information that the new Governor requires so that he can see the things that have been done and that is why I have integrated the written report. I am very pleased to know that the precautionary measures have all been taken into account,” said Margarita Sierra.
Derived from the Precautionary Measure issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rightswhich requests in its subsection: “III. Agree on the measures to be implemented with the beneficiaries and their representatives;” Thematic tables were held in squares and public spaces to compile the vision and proposals of the people in San Antonio Juanacaxtle, the Cabecera Juanacatlán, the Cabecera de El Salto and in the Las Azucenas neighborhood.
These measures represented an opportunity to adjust and strengthen the strategy.
At these tables, a feedback dialogue was held with the participation of organized civil society, the academic sector, with residents of El Salto and Juanacatlán. Subsequently, the proposals collected were presented where 181 observations were issued.
The initiatives for the recovery of the Santiago River were built through the Popular Assembly in El Salto (AP), Regional Water Program (PHR), Concertation with residents (PC), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and feedback from residents (R). were received 714 proposals that were evaluated by the agencies of the Government of Jalisco, to select 125 initiatives.
In the last part of the dialogue, René Caro, coordinator of the Management Office to the Territory, stated that there is this work guide that is delivered to the following authorities who will take office on December 6.
The document has three fundamental objectives, to capture the collaborative diagnosis process, to document the 66 actions and to outline the monitoring route.
Priority initiatives in the short term for the Santiago River are to form an intersectoral mechanism for monitoring, sanitation, screening for the detection of development of chronic kidney disease and training of health personnel, creation of a Trust or Fund as a financial instrument. Actions with an ecosystem vision and harmonization of territorial planning in the basins, sanitation in San Gaspar, Osorio and San Andrés, and the inspection and monitoring of discharges.
“What is not measured is not improved, and these 125 initiatives include the design of 18 indicators, 3 per component that have a clearly defined baseline, a goal and a time frame with which compliance with each of the objectives must be evaluated. initiatives,” he said.
The Governor Pablo Lemus ratified the next stage of this policy, with the construction of 4 treatment plants on the ground floor of the account and which will allow reaching 14 thousand lt/sec treated.
The river has already begun its recovery, with this strategy a clear route is left, from a collaborative and inclusive vision to continue its comprehensive recovery.
Present at the presentation of the report were: Un Salto de Vida, College of Civil Engineers of Jalisco, Mexican Hydraulic Association and the Agricultural and Agroindustrial Development Council of Jalisco.
In these six years of work, we wrote a new history and started the path to revive the Santiago River, with a comprehensive strategy to settle a debt with the environment and take care of the health of our people. See how we made it happen and why it was worth it… pic.twitter.com/ip0YiQjRfw
— Enrique Alfaro (@EnriqueAlfaroR) November 13, 2024
How has Governor Enrique Alfaro’s administration influenced sanitation improvements in the Santiago River?
Antonio Juanacaxtle, as well as the implementation of integrated management for wastewater. The collaborative strategies and proposals amassed aim to not only address immediate sanitation concerns but also ensure sustainable development concerning water resources and public health.
Governor Enrique Alfaro’s six-year tenure has laid the groundwork for significant improvements in the sanitation of the Santiago River. His commitment to tackling water quality issues and public health challenges illustrates a strategic approach to environmental management. With the new administration led by Pablo Lemus poised to continue this effort, there is hope for achieving a more sustainable and healthier future for the region. The comprehensive strategies developed through community involvement and feedback underscore the importance of civic engagement in addressing environmental and public health issues. The progress made thus far marks a crucial step towards a cleaner Santiago River and enhanced quality of life for its residents.