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Conagua Says Trash Causes 80% of Floods, Cites Waste Surge and 2026 Cleanups

Officials urge residents to stop dumping in waterways given the limits of combined sewer systems.

Overview

  • In the Valley of Mexico, authorities removed 99,699.19 tonnes of solid waste and 726,291.26 cubic meters of silt in 2025, up from 56,855.20 tonnes and 651,258.36 cubic meters in 2024.
  • So far in 2026, 112 cubic meters of solids—about 67.2 tonnes—have been extracted from deep pumping facilities in the region.
  • El Caracol in Ecatepec accounted for 38.4 tonnes at roughly 50 meters depth, while La Caldera in Ixtapaluca contributed 28.8 tonnes with lifts of about 30 meters, underscoring the technical challenge.
  • Nationwide this year, Conagua reports seven preventive operations across five states, supervision of 759 wells, and 62,072 linear meters cleared, benefiting roughly 56,000 people.
  • Academic experts report that combined sewer networks and unplanned urban expansion overload drainage infrastructure and heighten flood risk.