Water rights advocates and private citizens held a demonstration this week outside the main offices of SIAPA, Guadalajara’s Water and Wastewater Utility, to draw attention to the poor quality of water being supplied to thousands of homes across the metropolitan area.

Protestors displayed bottles and containers filled with chocolate-brown or greenish-hued water, which they said often emits a foul odor.

Water in Guadalajara frequently appears brown or cloudy due to the presence of sediment, rust or particles released from pipes when water pressure increases. The lack of maintenance in the distribution network contributes to the accumulation of sediment and rust, further degrading water quality.

SIAPA has consistently stated that the discolored water does not pose any health risks.   

María González Valencia, director of the Mexican Institute for Community Development (IMDEC), participated in the protest and emphasized that many neighborhoods, particularly in the municipalities of Guadalajara and Zapopan, have been grappling with this issue for years. IMDEC is an independent organization focused on legal advocacy, community-driven legal frameworks, and the protection of natural resources and cultural heritage.

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