Textile company suspended after dye discharge turns Tlaxcala river red

A textile company in Tlaxcala was temporarily suspended after wastewater containing dyes turned the Zahuapan River red, prompting an investigation by state environmental authorities.

The Procuraduría de Protección al Ambiente del Estado de Tlaxcala, or Propaet, traced the discharge to the company after residents, passersby and social media users reported the unusual color in the river from Friday onward. The red tint appeared at several points along the waterway through the municipalities of Apetatitlán, Tlaxcala and Totolac.

Inspectors worked with the state water and sanitation commission, the state security secretariat and Apetatitlán municipal authorities. They examined records, collectors and various parts of the drainage network in Tlatempan, Atzitzimititlán and Tizatlán before identifying the textile facility as the source.

According to the state report, the company discharged wastewater generated during its dyeing processes directly into the drainage system. Officials also found that it lacked the environmental documentation required to operate and had no wastewater treatment plant.

“Because of the irregularities detected and to prevent continuing possible harm to the environment and the state’s water resources, Propaet imposed the temporary suspension of the facility’s activities,” the state government said. The company’s commercial name remains confidential while the administrative case proceeds. Authorities said the case could lead to a penalty of at least 3 million pesos, while guaranteeing the company’s right to present evidence and respond to the allegations.

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Because of the irregularities detected and to prevent continuing possible harm to the environment and the state’s water resources, Propaet imposed the temporary suspension of the facility’s activities.