Coca-Cola Faces Criticism Over Water Shortages in Drought-Stricken Chiapas

Coca-Cola is under scrutiny for its excessive water consumption in Chiapas, Mexico, where severe drought has left many residents struggling to access clean drinking water. The bottling plant in the region reportedly extracts over 300,000 gallons of water per day, while locals endure chronic water shortages.

Water Crisis Worsens for Residents

Chiapas is known as Mexico’s wettest region, supplying 30% of the country’s fresh water. However, ongoing droughts have significantly reduced water availability, leaving only one-third of the population with access to clean water at home. Many residents – primarily women and girls – spend hours each day fetching water for their families.

Despite these dire conditions, Coca-Cola remains a top priority for the region’s water supply. The company’s bottling plant, located near the Huitepec volcano basin, continues to extract large amounts of water to produce soft drinks and food products, much of which is exported out of the community.

With limited access to drinking water, residents have turned to Coca-Cola as their primary beverage, consuming an estimated 2.2 liters per person daily, according to El Heraldo de Chiapas. This has made Chiapas one of the highest consumers of Coca-Cola per capita in the world.

Health and Environmental Consequences

The heavy consumption of sugary drinks has taken a toll on public health. Between 2013 and 2016, diabetes-related deaths in Chiapas increased by 30%, highlighting the negative effects of high sugar intake.

Beyond health concerns, the water shortages also pose environmental risks. The ongoing depletion of local water sources threatens the region’s tropical ecosystem, endangering the livelihoods of farmers and others who depend on natural resources.

“It’s sad. We can’t bathe. We can’t drink. We can’t clean water,” resident Silvia Perez Mendez told CBS This Morning in 2021.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola pays very little for the vast amounts of water it extracts, further fueling frustration among locals.

Calls for Action

Although Coca-Cola claims it aims to “return” water in high-risk areas, residents say they have yet to see meaningful change. In response, activists and nonprofit organizations such as We Are Water Foundation, Agua y Vida, and Cántaro Azul have been pushing for stronger regulations on water usage.

Cántaro Azul recently introduced the “Plan de Justicia Hídrica para Chiapas”, calling for a sustainable water system and recognition of water as a basic human right.

As pressure mounts on Coca-Cola and local authorities, the people of Chiapas continue to fight for fair access to one of life’s most essential resources – clean water.