A wastewater treatment plant for every home

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Mexico City is aiming to boost its sewage treatment capacity. The plan is for all new buildings to house their own wastewater reuse plant, as Leticia Lozano discovers.

Mexico City lawmakers are drawing up legislation to require all new buildings in the city to install wastewater treatment plants to help deal with growing water shortages and sewage disposal problems. The bill, which could be passed early next year, aims to oblige construction companies involved in the development of buildings and housing estates containing more than ten apartments, offices or homes to install wastewater treatment plants that would treat sewage and pump water back for reuse in washing machines and bathrooms.

Mexico City only treats about 10% of its sewage, compared to between 80% to 100% in some Mexican cities, and loses a third of its water supply through leakage. While the individual plants in question would be small, Mexico has a housing deficit of 5 million units, and office space in the country’s financial and business hub is growing at a rate of 5% per annum.

“More than 900,000 apartments were built between 2000 and 2006 in Mexico City. Imagine the water savings if this law had been implemented then,” said the bill’s sponsor, Mexico City opposition lawmaker Jorge Schiaffino. Schiaffino says the bill envisages construction companies hiring private sector water companies to install and run the plants, which would cost upwards of $15,000 each, with residents and office owners paying for maintenance and running costs. The cost of the plants would be factored into the market price of the buildings.

Lawmakers have initial support from Mexico’s top mortgage lender, state-run Infonavit, which is offering clients USD1,500 extra credit if they agree to buy environmentally- friendly homes with solar heaters and other measures to save gas, electricity and water. Lawmakers also hope to obtain federal funding to give more incentives to homeowners with treatment plants.