While the government of Mexico City advances in the work to clean wells with contaminated water, the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM) traces of oil would have been found in some cisterns and a takeover of the public network, which increases the controversy over the authorities’ handling of the situation.
After take a week to recognize the presence of contaminated waterthe government of the country’s capital said that it investigated the supply that arrives from the Cutzamala System, then he studied the Santa Lucía tank and did not find traces of contaminated water either.
Once this process was completed, the task of review the Miraflores, Jardín Pombo and Rosendo Arnaiz wells, that supply the Benito Juárez mayor’s office, where he did not find contaminated water, and that was why he denied contamination of the supply and said that it was suitable for human consumption. However, days later they closed the Alfonso XIII well, which is in Álvaro Obregón but also works for Benito Juárez only, and it was there where they found traces of oils and lubricants.
The capital government’s narrative is that the contaminated water that reached the well has no traces of oil; However, Delia Montero, coordinator of the UAM Water Network, He said that in the first tests particles were found that could be related to oil.
The sampling process began on Monday, April 15, and as commented in an interview with The countrythrough physicochemical tests organic compounds derived from petroleum were discoveredwhich were verified through the contrast with gasoline.
It is worth remembering that the government of Martí Batres He insisted that he carried out tests with an explosive meter and found no traces of fuel; However, he later guarded the three Benito Juárez wells that were supposedly clean.
Is it possible that a Pemex pipeline is responsible for the contaminated water in Benito Juárez?
Delia Montero said that it cannot be confirmed yet if the water was contaminated due to a Pemex pipeline; However, he said that the Alfonso XIII well, which was the first to be closed, It is 120 meters deep and if it is contaminated with petroleum derivatives, we can talk about a leak.
This contrasts with the report offered by the government of Martí Batres, who said that 500 meters from the Alfonso XIII well there is a Pemex pipeline, same that was analyzed and In a first pressure test it was confirmed that it had no leaksbut they were waiting for more tests and analysis.
The UAM considered that what is contaminated is the aquifer that supplies the area; however, It’s not about alarming people, but to provide information that is not opaque.
The UAM is expected to present its complete study next week, while the government of the country’s capital insists on the emptying and cleaning cisterns and wells so that the water that arrives is clean.
With information from El País.
