The indigenous communities of Yaxley, San Antonio Segundo, and Yodzonot Nuevo share not only the scenic beauty of Mexico's Caribbean coast, its customs, and way of life, but they have also experienced common challenges in water and sanitation. Paradoxically, water surrounds them; their proximity to the ocean and the Sian Ka'an reserve contrasts with the lack of water for everyday use, a common element of daily life.
In response to these challenges, solutions involve building community capacity for decision-making in the management of local water resources and the maintenance and operation of eco-technologies, which have been successfully implemented in previous community interventions to ensure their long-term functionality.
In the Mayan communities of San Antonio Segundo and Yaxley, six wetlands were constructed at the household level, one wetland per family. Additionally, a community wetland was constructed. Six rainwater harvesting systems were also rehabilitated, benefiting six families, each consisting of approximately five members.
Interview with Irving Olvera, Department Head, Sub-Directorate of Technical and Regulatory Support in Cost Engineering at CONAGUA, with contributions from Friends of Sian Ka'an:
What is a constructed wetland?
It is an alternative water treatment system that eliminates or reduces pollutants through natural processes involving aquatic life (macrophytic plants), filter media (sand, gravel, charcoal, rock), and microorganisms that biologically degrade pollutants.
Read the full interview on IW:LEARN
