Yucatan blue gold: a vital resource we must preserve

As we know, water is a vital element because it is a resource that we need tu use every day, whether for drinking, cleaning or bathing. It is also used in the primary sector in crops and in industries for the production of thousands of items we use every day.

Despite it’s importance, we take the water supply for granted, we forget its origin or we simply don’t think about where it comes from. Have you ever wondered where the blue gold is found in Yucatan?

Where is the water located in Yucatan ?

The Yucatan Peninsula is considered a great water reserve, being one of the most important hydrological reserves in the word and the largest in all of Mexico, since more than 32% of the national water recharge is concentrated in this region.

The water collected comes from subway caverns or cenotes (thousands of babies of water) found throughout the state.

Current situation: 

However, only 0,007% of this water is potable and this number is decreasing year by year due to contamination.

Water pollution is generated almost entirely by human activities; untreated sewage, deforestation and soil erosion; throwing garbage into the various bodies of water, are some of the various causes that day by day decrease the amount of water that is suitable for human consumption and the welfare of ecosystems.

Is it possible to act and do our bit ?

Cooperatives dedicated to community-based tourism such as Zaaz Koolen Haá, which manages the Yokdzonot cenote in the municipality of Yaxcabá in Yucatán, Mexico. They built an artificial wetland to store the water in the cenotes.

This system filters the water from the kitchen and bathrooms, allowing the water to be reused for irrigation, thus proposing a more sustainable tourism with the wetland and inspiring other communities to replicate the action.

You can act from wherever you are:

1. In your home:
   1. Turn off the faucet when you are washing dishes if you are not using water.
   2. Reuse the water you don’t use to water plants.
   3. Take a short shower.

1. In tourist sites:
   1. Do not throw garbage in babies of water.
   2. Help to pick up garbage near cenotes.
   3. Instead of buying a plastic bottle of water, enjoy a typical drink that helps to promote local commerce and allows us to coexist and get to know the place better.

Just like the Earth, our bodies are made up of 70% water; so caring for water is vital not only for the earth but for us acts with small actions together we can reduce the environmental impact on water.