Twelve years on, Grupo México's Río Sonora disaster leaves environmental and social debts unpaid

In Ures, Sonora, the contamination of the Río Sonora is not a memory of the past but a persistent threat. Residents express a deep-seated distrust in the local water, with many opting for purified water instead of tap water due to lingering concerns about health and unfulfilled promises.

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The water no longer inspires confidence.

The 2014 disaster saw over 40 million liters of toxic substances, including copper, arsenic, and lead, spill from a Grupo México mine into the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers. The toxic flow traveled hundreds of kilometers, impacting at least eight municipalities and contaminating the El Molinito dam, a key water source for Hermosillo.

Twelve years later, the focus has shifted from the accident itself to its enduring consequences. While the visible signs of pollution have faded, uncertainty remains. In Banámichi, residents question the whereabouts of two promised water treatment plants, and in Huépac, one such plant lies abandoned and rusting. The lack of promised infrastructure, including a long-awaited epidemiological and environmental surveillance unit, exacerbates health concerns, forcing many to travel to Hermosillo for medical care.

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We no longer drink tap water. Only purified water.

"They just promised. Everything was left there," says one resident, reflecting a widespread sentiment of disappointment. The ongoing lack of comprehensive repair and follow-up leaves the community grappling with environmental and social debts that continue to weigh heavily on their lives.

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They just promised. Everything was left there.