Building adaptation to extreme rain effects in San Francisco de Campeche, Mexico

Abstract

An integrated coastal zone management approach was used towards building adaptation strategies for the city of San Francisco de Campeche, Mexico. Large interannual variability in precipitation extremes have led to city-wide flooding in numerous occasions, threatening the population and city infrastructure. A special steering committee was appointed to coordinate an integrated coastal management plan within the three levels of government (federal, state and municipal) and to review the legal framework for water management. The municipal administration designed the blueprint for the project and an associated environmental education campaign. A pluvial drainage system was built to separate pluvial from domestic wastewater. Moreover, the wastewater drainage system was strengthened, and the city water treatment plants improved. As a result, water quality in the coastal zone improved and the city of San Francisco de Campeche was able to build its plan for adaptation to extreme rain events, which are increasingly frequent due to climate change.