MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION SOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE CANANEA MINING DISTRICT: COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS IN THE RESTORATION OF THE TRANSBOUNDARY SAN PEDRO RIVER

Water resources are essential for industry, agriculture, human consumption, and biodiversity conservation. However, nearly half of the global population faces water stress, threatening food security, economic development, and quality of life. Historically, one of the industries with the most significant impact on water consumption and quality is mining.

In Sonora, Mexico, the Cananea mine has been a major copper producer for over 100 years. However, contamination issues have been reported in the San Pedro River (SPR), a transboundary river that flows into the United States. Historical mining waste, artisanal mining activities, wastewater from the city of Cananea, and the presence of agrochemicals have elevated toxic element levels in the water, posing risks to health and ecosystems. This issue has led to a collaboration between Mexico and the United States to study and manage the SPR basin, given its ecological importance and the dependence of local communities on this resource.

This project aims to restore a historically contaminated water body, financed by recovering economically valuable metals from historical waste. It is crucial to implement actions to control pollution, remediate water bodies, and develop systems that promote water conservation and reuse for equitable distribution. Achieving these objectives necessitates the connection of four critical sectors: society, industry, government, and academia. This presentation will address various factors that underscore the need for collaboration among these different stakeholders, and the complexity of an environmental remediation project, considering the diverse perspectives required for its successful implementation.