Mexicali, Baja California; November 7, 2021.- Arca Continental, the State Comission of Public Services (known in Spanish as CESPM) and the Baja California´s State Government joined forces to lay the first stone, of an artificial wetland based on natural processes, to treat Mexicali’s urban water and supply productive activities that will benefit about 28,000 people.
This environmental project, executed by Pronatura Noroeste (PNO), uses ecofriendly technology. It is based on the use of native plants to eliminate bacteria and odors in the water. This will make possible the reuse of the water in various productive projects, such as a nursery that will be managed by the inhabitants of the Guadalupe Victoria village.
This new wetland will have the capacity to treat more than 4 million liters of water per day, which is equivalent to an amount of 800 water pipes of 5,000 liters each. The treated liquid will be used in projects in the Mexicali Valley, to directly and indirectly benefit the development and life quality of a population of about 936,000.
In addition to this wetland, PNO also collaborates with CESPM in the Las Arenitas wetland, with an area of approximately 247 acres. Also, there is Cucapa wetland, in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, in which PNO is working with the operating agency OOMAPAS. This makes a total of three operating artificial wetlands in the Colorado River Delta.
The inauguration event was attended by the Gov. of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda, accompanied by Norma Alicia Bustamante, Mayor of Mexicali; Sergio Londoño, Vice President of Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability of Coca-Cola Mexico; Jesús Lucatero, Director of Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability of Arca Continental Mexico and José Armando Fernández Samaniego, Deputy Director of CESPM. The environmental and conservation group Pronatura Noroeste was represented by Gabriela Caloca, Water and Wetlands Coordinator of the Colorado River Delta restoration team.
In her speech, Gov. Marina del Pilar celebrated the creation of environmental projects, that offer solutions and the possibility of jointly generating a water care culture. “We are very pleased to have great allies for Mexicali, for our valley, for our Baja California, for our country,” she said.
Gabriela Caloca of PNO emphasized that this wetland is part of PNO’s ongoing collaboration in the restoration of the Colorado River Delta, as an important tool to create habitat to shelter wildlife and strengthen the link with the river’s surrounding population. He stressed the importance of the participation of the different levels of government and the business sector in the conservation of the environment in this region of great natural wealth.
Finally, Jesús Lucatero of Arca Continental Mexico highlighted the importance of joining efforts between industry, government and civil society to generate projects that benefit the community.