Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The Drinking Water and Sewerage Commission (CAPA) says they are ready to take over the four municipalities currently operated by Aguakan. CAPA General Director Hugo Garza Sáenz, says as soon as legal gives the go-ahead, they will resume providing water and sewage services in Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, and Playa del Carmen.
Those four municipalities have been under a contract with private company Aguakan for nearly 10 years. The initial contract granted to Aguakan has expired, however, the company has resorted to legal avenues to continue providing water and sewage services to their four contracted municipalities.
Garza Sáenz says as soon as they receive legal instructions that the Aguakan concession has been withdrawn, CAPA (Comisión de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado) is ready.
“We are prepared at the opportune moment and legally speaking, when our Governor tells us, we are prepared, of course we are. Obviously the legal resources established by law will be used and based on that, at the judicial or legal moment when we are given the instruction to operate, we will do so without any problem,” he said.
Garza Sáenz explained that in the event of a ruling in favor of the state, CAPA will guarantee the service. According to Garza Sáenz, the infrastructure being used by Aguakan to operate is owned by the state government.
“We are certainly technically and operationally prepared to operate in the municipalities where the concessionaire operates. Let’s remember that the infrastructure the concessionaire operates is owned by the state government. We would operate the infrastructure the concessionaire operates with the same personnel that Aguakan currently has,” he explained.
He said that once they assume responsibility, CAPA would work with the same Aguakan staff. He said the idea is not to “fire half the world,” as he recognizes that there is a very valuable human capital that is familiar with the operations and that will continue to work with CAPA if they wish.
“Not a single sump, pump, or treatment plant will be left without someone to operate it,” he said.
At the end of April, company Desarrollos Hidráulicos de Cancún SA de CV (Aguakan) filed an appeal against a recent judicial ruling that would end their contract in the four municipalities.
