Court orders guarantee of 100 liters of potable water daily for Ecatepec residents

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) has ordered authorities to ensure a minimum of 100 liters of potable water per person each day for more than 600 residents in the fifth zone of Ecatepec, State of Mexico. This landmark decision comes after residents filed an amparo lawsuit protesting the chronic water shortages plaguing their community.

The court's ruling mandates a sufficient, continuous, and quality water supply, prioritizing delivery through the existing hydraulic network. When this is not feasible, alternative solutions must be provided. Furthermore, the SCJN has called for the necessary infrastructure works to be undertaken to address the underlying causes of the water scarcity affecting the zone.

The majority decision, based on a project by Minister President Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, recognized the legitimate interest of the plaintiffs, given that the municipality is designated as a priority attention zone. The ruling highlighted that previous assessments failed to adequately address critical issues such as the lack of hydraulic maintenance, water leaks, absence of meters, water theft, and the overexploitation of various wells.

Minister Aguilar Ortiz proposed ordering the unrestricted supply of 100 liters of quality potable water daily to each claimant, preferably via the hydraulic network and without any payment conditions. He also recommended linking state authorities to provide technical support and oversight to the relevant decentralized public body responsible for water management. Additionally, the court suggested implementing a hydraulic infrastructure program that includes a network diagnosis, a report on leaks, and a timeline for necessary repairs or specialized engineering solutions to resolve the water scarcity problem.

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Se propone ordenar que se suministre sin restricciones 100 litros de agua potable diariamente y de calidad a cada persona quejosa, preferentemente a través de la red hidráulica y sin sujetarlo a condición de pago alguno.