Cancun, Q.R. — The Hotel Riu Cancún will build its own wastewater treatment plant in the hotel zone after the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism (Fonatur) denied the hotel’s connection to the public system due to lack of capacity.
Fonatur explained that the Hotel Riu Cancún construction license violates municipal regulations. However, the hotel says that the court resolution authorizes it to build its own treatment infrastructure, saying it will not affect the local ecosystem.
“Contrary to the opinion of Fonatur, the continuation of the work does not violate the urban planning of the area,” said RIU adding that the court concluded that this development has the prevention measures referred to in the corresponding Environmental Impact Statement and, with this, does not endanger or violate the human right to a healthy environment.
“The objectives that are considered a priority for the correct spatial ordering of the population are not violated, such as the treatment of wastewater, without endangering the preservation and, where appropriate, restoration of the ecological balance,” they said.
In a letter sent to the court to be considered at the time of issuing a resolution, Fonatur ratified the refusal of the permits to RIU to connect to the El Rey sewage treatment plant, noting that it was already operating at its limited capacity.
In order to build its own wastewater treatment plant, the Riu Hotel will need a permit from the National Water Commission (Conagua).
Groups have continued to protest the construction of the hotel, citing environmental issues including wastewater treatment and the already-overcapacity of the Cancun Hotel Zone.
