Water from wells and sinkholes in Mexico's Yucatan state that residents use for drinking is contaminated with fecal bacteria, according to a Greenpeace report published on Tuesday, which said nearby pig farms and municipal wastewater were likely sources, reported Reuters.
Greenpeace called for an immediate moratorium on new industrial livestock operations and farm expansions in the state, home to the ancient Maya civilization.
"A range of chemical and microbiological indicators reveal a complex mosaic of severe, localized organic pollution," it said.
Greenpeace commissioned an independent laboratory to test water at 17 sites near the state capital Merida in August. The sites included household and farm wells, community water points and cenotes, the natural sinkholes that dot the Yucatan peninsula, one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations.
According to the report, every sample showed some degree of contamination likely linked to fecal waste, and several sites appeared heavily polluted. Total coliform bacteria reached the test's upper limit in 16 of 17 samples, and fecal coliforms did so in 13.
However, the tests cannot show whether the waste came from people or animals, and leaking septic tanks and municipal sewage may also contribute to contamination. Greenpeace said the results raise "critical accountability questions" about nearby pig farms.
The Yucatan state government was not available for comment, while Mexico's national water commission, CONAGUA, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Merida's Association of Pig Farmers also did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
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