By Carola Rico
Based on the municipal government’s social communication website, we obtained official information regarding the current administration’s plans for sustainable development. Undoubtedly, one of the urgent issues is water. During the current government’s first months in office, an agreement was signed with the French company Altereo to carry out a project of technological innovation and quality improvement for San Miguel de Allende’s usable water. The goal of this three-part project is to increase the capacity to operate, maintain, and renew pipeline infrastructure, as well as address leaks in the water distribution network. The aim is to guarantee sustainable water service for all San Miguel residents.
The local government and Altereo will work together on these goals over the next 12 months. It is Altereo’s first project in Mexico, and makes SMA a pioneer in applying specialized software.The contract could be extended to decarbonize the city’s water service. This project would be based on innovative technologies to remedy leaks (with artificial intelligence sensors) and a step-by-step renovation of conduction networks to provide the necessary pressure to send water to SMA’s homes.
The Memorandum of Understanding commits the participants to undertake these objectives, through a systemic approach with several innovative technologies, to provide for the decarbonization of the water service of the city of San Miguel de Allende.
Recent studies confirm a water deficit in SMA; the focus now is how to extend the availability of water. Experts are convinced that new sustainability policies are necessary. The studies also report an inventory of over 3,000 clandestine wells. Housing developments consume 22% of the available water. In recent years 25,000 housing units have been approved further that 22% margin. This means 44,000 family homes, which more than doubles the current housing number. The French company is also conducting a hydrological and pluvial study to determine how water consumption is affected by pipes in the historic center, which date from the 1960s and 1970s.
A pending issue for the current government is establishing new public policies related to water, especially policies regarding agricultural cultivation. We know that 75% of water consumption is used in agricultural irrigation without any usage limitations. In addition to implementing new technologies and optimizing water usage, work will be done to create awareness about caring for water.
Another of the government’s objectives is reforestation to reduce climate change and to level off the temperature in SMA, which has increased considerably in the last 10 years. One plan is that all new public buildings must have a green area or a number of trees to improve the ecological balance. Finally, the municipal government’s comprehensive program focuses on decreeing three protected natural areas: Los Picachos; La Márgara; and La Presa. The revision will start at the municipal level; the developments that were previously approved will be reviewed to analyze their impact, and work will be done to improve public transport, lighting, and to rescue public spaces.
The municipal government is also studying traffic lights and traffic flow. The current administration does not see the point of traffic lights. It wants to revert to when pedestrians were the most important presence on the street. Rules limiting the number of billboards will remain.
The municipal government will soon officially announce the sustainability projects, following the closed season subsequent to elections.
