19th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee

Record of Meeting pg 1 of 2
19th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee

Where: El Presidencia at the Municipal Buildings on the road to Queretaro.
When: 28th January 2009 11.30 – 2.30
Who: Enrique Nunez (director), Don Patterson & Julio (ecology dept), Rafael (brother of Jose Miguel – Delegado Los Torres Community), The delegado & 3 women from Montecillo de Nieto Community. Miguel Ramirez (Desarrollo Social), Holly Yasui (Cedesa), Enrique Orvananos & Laura Stewart (San Miguel Midday Rotary Club),

Purpose of the meeting: to follow up on the previous meeting held 19th Nov 2008 – to discuss community issues including the supply of safe drinking water.

Ecology reported that the Sapasma well had been drilled to a level of 180mtrs.
Ecology dept has carried out preliminary water testing & discovered that the water from the new well contains 2.0mg/l (the allowable level is 1.5mg/l) of fluoride.

The tests are not exact yet as the water is too turbid. Don Patterson is planning to carry out further testing in 3 months when the water has settled.

Testing has also been carried out in the past on the shallow well that is approx 1 hr’s walk from LT. It is also high in fluoride.

Don explained the implications of high fluoride levels to the communities. The damage it does to the teeth & skeletal system as well as other symptoms. They had not heard of this before (except Rafael as LT had previously been advised of the fluoride contamination in their family wells.

Enrique N. spoke to the communities to tell them of the many programs available to them from the various govt departments. Including:
• Reforestation project – members of the community are eligible to receive the average daily wage plus free trees, for the planting in their area. They need to contact Don at Ecology re this program.
• The local govt. is planning to build a road through the back way from LT/Montecillo de Nieto to SMA – if the communities work together to create a committee they can represent themselves to the govt & will be favourably received.
• Montecillo Sports teams are now winning (thanks to assistance) & Enrique N wants the same for LT.
• They need to work together as there are funds available for work & materials, especially provided in programs by the govt. to assist men returning from the USA without work.

Montecillo community members raised the issue of rubbish being thrown into their river by weekend ‘tourists’ that come for the free hotsprings. They have approached them many times to take their rubbish with them but no one is listening.
Action Ecology pledged to send inspectors for 4 weekends & also to deputise the women of the community so that they can be ‘community inspectors’

Miguel Ramirez of Desarollo urbano (urban development) has been visiting the communities in the region, to ask them their priorities regarding issues they have.
Following are a sample of the issues he has discovered:
• no toilets
• contamination from lack of sanitation
• lack of water



Record of Meeting pg 2 of 2
19th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee


He said that Ecology had made some promises about building dry toilets for some of these communities but that had not happened yet. Ecology said they don’t have the budget for it right now.

Miguel is gathering statistics on requirements & will then present a needs analysis.

One of the communities he visited is collecting plastics & batteries & other recyclables for recycling. All communities could be doing this. They will receive a small amount in compensation from the recycling program on Libramiento Dolores.

To summarise:
The various govt. departments have many programs available to the people, but first the communities must mobilise themselves.
A good website that lists these programs is www.sedesol.gob.mx



Contact numbers:
Enrique Núñez Martínez
Secretario Técnico

Circuito Escolar S/N
Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán
CP 04510 México D.F.
014611335221
ID 52*270690*2
enrique_nunezm@yahoo.com.mx
His phone number at the Presidencia is: 152-9600 ext 147

Miguel Angel Ramirez Desarollo Social & Urbano
Tel 415 112 62221/ oficina 120 4330 & 4331

Rafael Los Torres Community representative Cel 415 100 9482

Next meeting scheduled for 25 Feb 11am.