Hidalgo Communities Protest CONAGUA Over Endhó Dam Pollution

ByAlexia Villaseñor and Jared Laureles

This article by Alexia Villaseñor and Jared Laureles originally appeared in the February 18, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. Residents affected by the pollution of the Endhó dam, located in Hidalgo, protested in front of the headquarters of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), in the country’s capital, demanding immediate attention to the pollution of the reservoir that affects 24 communities.

Members of the Social Movement for the Land (MST) collective, after spending Tuesday night outside the Commission, denounced that despite the fact that in 2024 this dam was declared an ecological restoration zone, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and CONAGUA, they have not seen “favorable” results from the measures implemented such as the crushing and manual removal of the water hyacinth “which continues to increase”, and consequently, the proliferation of the culex mosquito.

Another of their demands is the holding of an Indigenous consultation to be taken into account in the restoration program, since the native and peasant communities of the region were not considered.

Water lily removal from the Endhó dam, December 2024. Photo: Cuartoscuro

He noted that the dam was built in 1951 and has been storing wastewater from the Valley of Mexico since 1970, which “creates a critical situation for nearby communities due to the high levels of contaminants in the water.” He added that “it has become infested with water hyacinth due to a lack of control, and there is a large mosquito infestation that has been affecting the population for over a year.”

Therefore, he maintained, they require a plan with technical elements for controlling this pest, as it is the mosquito’s habitat. “You can’t fumigate or control the mosquito if you don’t eradicate the water hyacinth,” he stated. Furthermore, he added, the hot and rainy season is approaching, periods when the insect’s reproduction is at its peak.

After a morning meeting with authorities from the agency, they agreed to a technical meeting next week, which they expect will include the head of CONAGUA, Efraín Morales, and staff from the National Center for Preventive Programs and Disease Control (CENAPRECE), so they removed their tents and returned to their state.