Stormwater drainage works in Querétaro are 35% complete on the Peñuelas drainage canal. The Municipality of Querétaro anticipates that the new system will be able to capture 250 cubic meters per second by the 2026 rainy season.
The 390 million peso investment, in conjunction with the state, represents an unprecedented hydraulic infrastructure effort in the last 25 years. The project aims to reduce the risk of flooding and property damage in the northern part of the capital by up to 70%, more than doubling the drainage capacity recorded during the critical rains last August.
The Municipality of Querétaro is carrying out a comprehensive intervention that includes not only water channeling but also the replacement of basic networks to prevent collapses. The dimensions of the new drainage canal, 5.10 meters high and 6.6 meters wide, will mitigate the speed of the flows descending from the higher elevations towards Menchaca and San Pedrito Peñuelas.
Project Specifications and Progress:
Invest 210 million pesos directly in the construction of new concrete culverts on Obreros Street.
Install 1,200 linear meters of sanitary sewer to separate wastewater from stormwater runoff.
Replace 1,300 linear meters of potable water pipe to eliminate leaks detected by the CEA (State Water Commission).
Compensate for the removal of 45 trees by planting 300 new trees along sidewalks.
Coordinate with the State Government the rehabilitation of the Cuates I, Cuates II, and Benito Juárez levees.
The strategic plan of the Municipality of Querétaro also includes complementary work in Santa María Magdalena, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, and Epigmenio González. These actions aim to protect the city from extreme weather events with rainfall of up to 120 cubic meters per second, a figure that quadruples the intensity of a typical storm in the region.
The project is scheduled for completion between June and July 2026. The administration of Felifer Macías emphasized that the work is based strictly on technical hydrological studies to avoid “challenging nature” and ensure the safety of families.
Completion of the Peñuelas drainage system is projected for the beginning of the third quarter of 2026.
An additional 180 million pesos will be invested in surrounding streets in the outlying districts.
Civil protection protocols will be followed during the final phase of construction and connection of the drainage collectors.
The completion of these stormwater drainage works in Querétaro will allow for more precise control of the flow of water that previously swept through vehicles and affected homes in the Epigmenio González district. The next steps include closing the culverts and repaving the intervention area before the arrival of the rainy season.
Source: adn40
