Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Municipal authorities will launch a focused campaign this weekend to remove waste from the city’s rivers and streams, aiming to cut pollution before it reaches the beaches. The move follows the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) decision declaring three popular beaches – Camarones, Mismaloya, and the mouth of the Cuale – temporarily unfit for recreation due to high contamination levels.
City Council member Christian Omar Bravo Carvajal, who chairs the Clean Beaches Commission, said the new phase zeroes in on the real source of the problem. “This Saturday we’re getting active again, but now our priorities will be the rivers,” he noted. “The streams are direct channels to our beaches.”
The operation will be coordinated by the City Council with support from state and federal agencies, civil groups, and local volunteers. Their shared goal: restore water quality and prevent future damage along the Vallarta shoreline.
Seapal Vallarta will begin fresh water-quality sampling on Monday at the three affected beaches. “We believe the [test] results will be negative for pollution,” Bravo said, pointing out that recent rains have washed debris and contaminants downstream despite ongoing beach cleanups.
Bravo Carvajal acknowledged that while the ocean may appear clean, rivers and canals have been a consistent source of waste. Cleanup crews have discovered large items such as refrigerators and armchairs, particularly under bridges and along stream and river banks.
Despite these challenges, there’s growing public engagement. “We have been cleaning up intensively and will continue to do so,” he added. “The public has already joined the effort, and there is greater awareness about this problem.”
The municipal beach cleanup committee also met this week to tighten preventive measures and improve coordination among institutions. Bravo Carvajal urged citizens to avoid littering in rivers and canals, emphasizing that such waste inevitably reaches the sea. “I respectfully ask that we not litter in rivers and streams,” he said. “This action not only harms the environment, but also directly impacts our quality of life.”
Looking ahead, Bravo announced that a “Blue Flag” certification for one of the municipality’s beaches will be revealed in the coming weeks – an accomplishment he called a sign of Puerto Vallarta’s commitment to stronger environmental and tourism standards.
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