The municipal water utility in La Paz formalized 59 previously unregistered water connections in the coastal community of El Sargento after completing a special regularization campaign that ran from April 10 to 18. All 59 hookups had been drawing from the potable water network without a contract.
Oomsapas La Paz (Organismo Operador Municipal del Sistema de Agua Potable, Alcantarillado y Saneamiento) director general Abimael Ibarra Abúndez said the program, called “Toma Chocolate,” allowed residents to formalize their service without facing fines or penalties. The initiative was coordinated with the administration of La Paz Mayor Milena Quiroga Romero as part of a broader push for what officials described as “water order and justice.”
Why It Matters for Water Planning
Ibarra Abúndez said direct outreach to residents was key to the program’s success. By bringing informal connections into the official system, the utility now has more accurate data on real water demand in El Sargento. That data feeds directly into distribution planning for the community, which sits about 70 kilometers east of La Paz on the Sea of Cortez coast.
El Sargento has grown steadily in recent years, attracting both Mexican families and a small but growing number of foreign residents drawn to its proximity to kite-surfing spots and the slower pace compared to La Paz proper. Unregistered connections strain the system because the utility cannot account for their consumption when scheduling water delivery or maintaining pressure.
Program Expanding to Other Communities
The amnesty-style registration drive will not stop at El Sargento. Ibarra Abúndez confirmed that Oomsapas plans to roll out the same program in Lagunitas, La Pasión, El Centenario, Chametla, Los Barriles, and Todos Santos. Several of those communities, particularly El Centenario, Los Barriles, and Todos Santos, are home to significant expat populations.
Property owners in those areas who currently have informal or uncontracted water hookups will have a window to register voluntarily before enforcement actions begin. Registering during the amnesty period means no fines. Waiting until after the program concludes could mean higher charges or penalties.
No specific dates for the upcoming drives have been announced. Oomsapas has not disclosed what penalties unregistered users would face once the voluntary window closes.
The story was first reported by BCS Noticias.