La Paz’s Camellones Choyeros landscaped median project has reached its halfway point, with 2 kilometers of planted medians now completed along the corridor stretching from the Cola de Ballena area to the city’s international airport. The project uses a dedicated recycled water irrigation system to green the desert roadway without tapping the city’s strained drinking water supply.
Recycled Water Keeps Potable Supply Intact
The irrigation system runs on a “purple line,” the color-coded piping standard used to distinguish recycled (treated wastewater) from potable water. Crews are currently extending the purple line to connect the northern highway median near an overpass with the airport corridor. The medians also incorporate rainwater capture basins designed to collect and channel seasonal storm runoff.
La Paz, a desert city that relies heavily on a stressed aquifer, has been expanding its use of treated water across public spaces. In January 2026, the La Paz City Council formally broadened treated water use for irrigation, public space maintenance, and construction projects as part of a citywide conservation policy under Mayor Milena Quiroga Romero. The Baja California Sur Health Secretariat (SSA) confirmed no health concerns are associated with the treated water and clarified it is not mixed with the drinking supply.
Endemic Plants and Local Labor
All vegetation planted on the medians is endemic to the Baja California Sur desert, chosen for low water demand and resilience in extreme heat. The project is a collaboration between labor union CROC (Confederación Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos), the state government of Baja California Sur, and Fitupaz, the municipal trust responsible for urban improvements in La Paz.
The Cola de Ballena to airport corridor is one of the main routes visitors and residents use daily, running through the southern approach to the city. Greening this stretch has been a long-discussed priority for La Paz officials looking to improve the city’s appearance without increasing pressure on water resources.
Water Stress Drives Innovation
La Paz faces ongoing water scarcity. The city’s aquifer has been overdrawn for years, and prolonged drought conditions across Baja California Sur have intensified the problem. Environmental groups like Niparajá have pushed for greater use of treated water and watershed restoration to protect long-term supply. The Camellones Choyeros project fits within that broader strategy, proving that urban greening and water conservation can work together in an arid climate.
Originally reported by BCS Noticias.