---
title: "Faecal Waste Pollution in Mexico's Yucatan State Highlighted by Greenpeace Report"
url: https://noti.group/faecal-waste-pollution-in-mexico-s-yucatan-state-highlighted/
language: en
publisher: "Noti Group"
section: "World News"
published: 2026-10-21T03:02:29.000Z
updated: 2026-10-21T04:24:03.169Z
id: 77337c66-da1b-45ec-a1f6-33506b7cd92f
source: "Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/21/faecal-waste-pollutes-drinking-water-in-mexicos-yucatan-greenpeace-says?traffic_source=rss"
attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/faecal-waste-pollution-in-mexico-s-yucatan-state-highlighted/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Faecal Waste Pollution in Mexico's Yucatan State Highlighted by Greenpeace Report

A new report from Greenpeace highlights severe faecal waste pollution in Mexico's Yucatan state, where drinking water sources are being contaminated by bacteria and chemicals.

A new report from Greenpeace has highlighted a severe case of faecal waste pollution in Mexico's Yucatan state, where vital sources of drinking water are being contaminated by bacteria and chemicals.

The report points to nearby pig farms and municipal wastewater as the likely culprits behind the pollution in the southeastern coastal state. The researchers found that pollutants were seeping into the aquifer through the area's porous limestone bedrock, which is the only source of freshwater in this region.

With no above-ground rivers, groundwater is the primary source of drinking water for residents and tourists alike in the Yucatan Peninsula. This makes the situation all the more critical, as the report notes that a range of chemical and microbiological indicators reveal severe localised organic pollution.

Greenpeace commissioned an independent laboratory to test water at 17 sites near the state capital of Merida in August. The samples were taken from household and farm wells, community water points, and cenotes - natural sinkholes found throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.

The samples collected by Greenpeace from various water sources in Mexico's Yucatan region revealed widespread contamination linked to faecal waste. Every sample tested showed some degree of pollution, with several sites exhibiting extremely high levels of contamination.

While the tests cannot pinpoint whether the contamination comes from human or animal waste, other potential sources include leaking septic tanks and municipal sewage systems. These factors could be contributing to the high levels of bacteria found in the samples.

Separate DNA testing using a pig-specific marker method detected pig faecal matter in water samples analyzed at laboratories in the US and Mexico's National Autonomous University. Greenpeace claims these results raise serious questions about nearby industrial pig farms.

The presence of industrial pig farms, totaling over 500 across Yucatan state with more than 50,000 animals, has raised concerns among local communities and environmental authorities. Many of these farms are located near Indigenous Peoples' lands and territories, sparking fears that waste and chemicals from the farms could be contaminating drinking water sources.

The contamination of drinking water sources in Mexico's Yucatan region is primarily attributed to industrial animal farming operations, according to Greenpeace. This assertion was made by Orellana, who emphasized that these operations are the main source of pollution.

However, not everyone agrees with this assessment. Antonio Zumarraga, vice president of the Yucatan Citizen Scientific Water Observatory, defended the local pork industry, pointing out that it has invested in water treatment and conservation programs. He instead blamed local authorities for their lack of action on the issue.

Zumarraga expressed his frustration, stating that the government will only take action if the problem gains significant political traction. The Yucatan state government was unavailable for comment, while Mexico's national water commission did not respond to a request for comment, and the Merida Association of Pig Farmers also failed to provide a response.

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Source: [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/21/faecal-waste-pollutes-drinking-water-in-mexicos-yucatan-greenpeace-says?traffic_source=rss)  
Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/faecal-waste-pollution-in-mexico-s-yucatan-state-highlighted/