What’s the Pollution Score for Lake Chapala?
December 8, 2008
What’s the Pollution Score for Lake Chapala?
A recent government press release stated that Lake Chapala was safe for swimming in the Chapala area and that fish from the lake could be eaten safely if the organs and bottom feeder fish were omitted.
One of many active groups that are set on dramatically decreasing the level of pollution even more in Lake Chapala is the Lerma-Chapala Basin Council (CCLC).
In the past the interest was more focused on saving the lake from drying up. Well, Mother Nature has done her part to fill the lake to record levels in the past few years.
Now it’s time for all of us to do our part to turn Lake Chapala into not just a beautiful lake to look at, but a beautifully clean lake that is nice to swim in, fish in, and boat in.
And, Good News: We’re making progress.
Jalisco will be equipped to sanitize 97 percent of the wastewater discharged into Lake Chapala by the end of 2009, Governor Emilio Gonzalez recently stated at the CCLC meeting held last November in Ajijic.
The municipalities of Jesus Maria, Ayotlan and Degollado would boost the treatment of effluents into Lake Chapala by 14 percent.
The Jalisco government has brought ten new treatment plants on line this year, with another 12 under construction and 18 more on the drawing board for next year.
More recently the CCLC has brought together 36 representatives of government agencies and usage sectors that now hold seats on the council all with the idea of eliminating the pollution in Lake Chapala.
In the Lerma River Lake Chapala Basin there are more than 51,000 square kilometers, which is home to 11 percent of the country’s population which provides a major portion of agricultural and industrial products for Mexico.
The recent meeting successfully refined the CCLC’s structure allowing for an expanded membership which will include places at the table for officials from seven federal ministries, the governors of the five basin states, one mayor from each state acting as a representative for the entity’s municipal governments, and spokesmen from academic institutions, non-government organizations and seven different water usage sectors.
We’ll keep you posted on how well they do.
