WHEN TURN OUR BACKS ON THE RIVER

The Sabinal Rivercase study

Erika Diaz PascacioProgram Coordinator, State Government of ChiapasM.S. Environmental Management, The University of

Queensland, Australia

The Mission Movie

III. Sabinal River

II. Water resources II. Water resources in Chiapasin Chiapas

I.I. Overview of water resources in Overview of water resources in

MexicoMexico

a. General Info about the river & area

b. Description of the problem

c. Loss of CONNECTION

d. Getting our river back

Plenty of water resources but lack of potable water for human consumption

a. River shapes

b. The most important rivers

c. River pollution

d. Ways of accessing water

Outline

I. Overview of rivers and water supply in Mexico - Ia. River shapes

Rivers are short, usually not navigable with modest flow, especially those with the Pacific gradient.

Ib. The most important rivers in Mexico

Most important rivers

Millions of m3

Length Comment

USUMACINTA 56,000 1,000 Km Usumacinta and Grijalva basin is thewettest region in the country.

GRIJALVA 25,000 480 Km

BRAVO 13,000 2,018 Km The longest in the country

Lerma-Chapala 8,500 700 Km The most populated urban-rural river basin,11% of the population inhabits this area.Most developed economically

Ic. River pollution

• 75% of rivers and lakes are considered polluted.

• 50% of the availability of water is wasted.

• 70% of domestic water sewage is untreated.

• Only 26% of industrial water is treated.

Id. Ways of accessing water

Water availability per capita from 1950 to 2005 (m3/person/year)

II. Water resources in Chiapas

• 30% surface water of the country• 54% hydroelectric power• 50% households with running water• 118 municipalities (local govt.) • 40% indigenous people• 21% illiteracy rate

III. The Sabinal River case study a. General Info

Location

- 16 km length- 14 tributaries or micro watersheds- 5 municipalities

Rainfall and temperature rates

IIIb. Description of the problem: Sabinal River

Looking at the problem with a sense of humor

IIIc. Loss of connection

How we turned our backs on the river

Los Ángeles6.6 m2/person

Tuxtla Gutiérrez

4.9 m2/person

London 20.5 m2/person

Loss of green areas in urban settings

Loss of cultural identity

CAMPAIGN – SABINAL RIVER CLEAN UP

Ar ro yo El Pot i PREDI O

Obrera

Alfonso Guillen

San Pascualito

Frac. Mactum

atza

El TriunfoFracc. San Fco. El

Sabinal

Barrio Juy Juy

Bella Vista

Villa del RíoSanta Teresita

Fracc. Las Arboledas

Infonavit Laborante

Unidad Chiapaneca

Parque Madero

Plan de Ayala La Herradura

Barrio colon

Barrio San Francisco

San José Terán

San Agustín. Plan de Ayala

Sto. Domingo

Módulo II

Los trabajadores

Cerro Hueco

San Roque

Ampli. Loma Bonita

7 de Octubre

Puente Buena Vista

Infonavit Grijalva

San MarcosPaseo del

Bosque

Nvo. Eden

Paso Limón

El Vergel y Brasilito

Fracc. El Bosque

El Calvario

Loma bonita

Arroyo de Piedra

El Campanario

Rincón de los Lagos

Frac. Lumha

Chapultepec

Terán

Roberto Albores Guillen

Solidaridad Chiapaneca

Hidalgo, 5 mayo

Las Delicias

Rinconada del sol

Las Brisas

Tzocotumbak

Neighborhoods visited

“Never doubt that a handful of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing ever

has.” - Margaret Mead

The Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas