Jalisco governor attempts to revive 2 dam projects

Jalisco state governor Enrique Alfaro is urging Mexico’s government to resume works on two major dam projects that have been in limbo for years. 

The projects concern the 10.8bn-peso (US$520mn) El Zapotillo dam and the 9bn-peso El Purgatorio dam, on which works began in 2011 and 2013.

A dialogue between the state and the national government has been reestablished to solve the problems that have prevented the current and the previous administration from completing the projects, Alfaro wrote on Twitter Monday. 

A long- and short-term strategy should be announced soon, he wrote. 

According to media reports, the governor also told a group of construction company leaders and investors that the dams could solve state capital Guadalajara’s water problems, and that it was the federal government’s obligation to complete them. 

The Andrés Manuel López Obrador administration announced investments for both dams in November 2019, but the plans changed due to the COVID-19 emergency. 

For 2021, the government allocated 300mn pesos to El Zapotillo, while leaving the future of El Purgatorio in limbo. 

In addition to the lack of funds, local opposition – which led to the suspension of the works – remains strong. 

Both dams on the Verde river include an aqueduct project. 

The El Zapotillo dam and aqueduct were planned to supply 3.8m3/s to León in Guanajuato state, 3m3/s to Guadalajara, and 1.8m3/s to Altos de Jalisco region.

El Purgatorio comprises a dam and an aqueduct to complement El Zapotillo. 

Its first stage involves a 35Mm3 (million cubic meters) dam to supply Guadalajara metropolitan area. Aside from receiving some 1,400l/s from the Verde river, El Purgatorio would also receive 800l/s from the nearby El Salto reservoir and 3,000l/s from the El Zapotillo reservoir.

The second stage includes an aqueduct, a treatment plant and a distribution network.

Pictured: Unfinished El Purgatorio dam