Jalisco Civil Protection officials have discarded the possibility that a strange aroma emanating from the sewage network in several Zapopan colonias—described as garlicky—presents any danger to the public.
A statement issued by the agency said the smell was caused by a pest control substance of “low environmental impact” that “used in small quantities is not harmful to health.”
On Wednesday, the metropolitan area water utility, SIAPA, confirmed that cleansing had been carried out in the sewage drains in five Zapopan neighborhoods: Las Colonias, Las Águilas, La Calma, El Colli and El Colli Urbano.
Some neighbors said SIAPA and municipal authorities were slow to react to their complaints about the peculiar odor, and vacated their homes for safety.
Municipal officials said they checked the sewers with specialized equipment, and ruled out any risk of an explosion.
Residents of Guadalajara still remember the tragedy of April 1992, when gasoline that had leaked into the sewer lines exploded, destroying eight kilometers of city streets and killing more than 200 people. Authorities had detected the gasoline in the sewers after neighbors complained, but failed to take any action.