At a press conference held this Wednesday, Puerto Vallarta Mayor Luis Ernesto Munguía González announced a major investment of over 57 million pesos by the city’s water utility, Seapal, to stabilize the water supply and restore pressure throughout the municipality. The goal is to normalize service by the end of July.

Mayor Munguía was joined by Seapal’s General Director, Carlos Alberto Ruiz Hernández, along with administrative deputy director Rodolfo Domínguez Monroy and Carlos Alfredo Manzano Madera, director of Water Studies and Projects. Together, they unveiled the first phase of infrastructure works, which aim to boost production to 1,500 liters of water per second—enough, they say, to ensure stable pressure and consistent delivery to households citywide.

The initial project package is expected to increase production by 140 liters per second, adding to the 80 liters per second already recovered, for a total gain of 220 liters per second. The administrative process is underway, with tenders and bidding open in early May. Construction is expected to last two to three months.

The planned investment of 57.39 million pesos will fund the following key projects:

  • Re-drilling of deep wells No. 38 and 19 in the Las Juntas district, and well No. 1 in Ixtapa

  • Drilling and equipping of vertical galleries for a radial well in Las Juntas

  • Interconnection of a 10-inch water line from Verde Vallarta to Las Juntas

  • Rehabilitation of the drinking water network along Avenida Federación, between 10 de Mayo and Ribera del Río Pitillal

Mayor Munguía expressed optimism, noting that many neighborhoods—particularly on the outskirts and in rural areas—have faced chronic water shortages for decades. He pledged to pursue permanent solutions.

“This year, we’re seeing progress. Our aim is to ensure that, once these works are completed, the shortages don’t return—neither this year nor in the future,” said Munguía. “These improvements are part of a broader plan that includes long-term infrastructure development, especially for rural communities like Tebelchía, where water is still delivered by tanker trucks.”

Seapal director Carlos Ruiz emphasized that the funding for the first seven projects will come from Seapal’s own budget. In addition, 14 proposals have been submitted to the federal Pro Agua program through Conagua, which, if approved, could unlock over 200 million pesos for further improvements.

“When we took office, production stood at 1,260 liters per second—far below what’s needed to meet demand,” Ruiz said. “The city has grown by around 40,000 homes, yet supply hadn’t kept pace. In six months, we’ve increased production by 80 liters per second. While this has helped, it’s not enough. These new projects will help us reach our goal of 1,500 liters per second and ensure that water reaches every household.”