CAPA Introduces Osmosis Desalination Plant in Aldea Zama, Tulum
In the coming weeks, the osmosis plant project in the Aldea Zama residential area will be launched, which will increase the supply of drinking water to Tulum by approximately 25 percent, according to Ernesto Sobrino, manager of the Potable Water and Sewerage Commission (CAPA).
Sobrino explained that this desalination plant will extract an additional 50 liters per second compared to Tulum’s current capacity, thereby increasing the water allocation and helping to alleviate the issue of scarcity that is sometimes experienced, especially during the hot season.
“The desalination plant should be operational in the next few days or weeks. We are finalizing the details with the overseeing institutions to ensure its smooth operation. It will provide us with additional supply to complement what we currently have,” said the official.
Currently, Tulum’s water allocation is around 150 to 180 liters per second, sourced from the capture plant located at kilometer 7 of the Tulum-Cobá road. Sobrino emphasized that the osmosis plant will contribute an extra 50 liters per second to the ninth municipality, particularly to the coastal area, resulting in a total allocation of approximately 200 to 230 liters per second to meet the demands of the people of Tulum.
“We will practically reach the optimal or near-optimal level of demand required by Tulum,” he underscored. The CAPA has invested around 50 million pesos in this project.
Due to the rapid growth of Tulum, Sobrino stated that the production of drinking water has been outpaced by the peak-hour demand, leading to decreased efficiency throughout the town.
It is expected that the construction of the brackish water desalination plant using a two-stage reverse osmosis process will contribute to the consolidation of the potable water system in the city. This will increase the water production capacity while improving the quality of the vital liquid.
Ernesto Sobrino mentioned that the new plant will be divided into three treatment units, each with a capacity of 17.5 liters per second of permeate water, resulting in a total treatment capacity of an average daily flow of 50 liters per second.
