Work

Water Sustainability Criteria to Regulate the Proliferation of Pig Farms on a Karst Aquifer

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study employs a thorough methodology to define water sustainability criteria for the development of new pig farms on the karst aquifer of Yucatan, Mexico. The integrated approach entails a field campaign to assess water quality from the aquifer (wells and cenotes) and effluents from designated pig farms to evaluate adherence to environmental regulations, alongside the utilisation of an extensive pig farm database that includes pig populations by the municipality in Yucatan. The water sustainability of pig farming in Yucatan was analysed by evaluating the nitrogen greywater footprint and water pollution levels for this municipality sector. The intensive pig farming practices in Yucatan significantly contribute to water contamination through nutrient runoff, namely nitrogen and phosphorus. Moreover, the breach of environmental regulations concerning pig farm effluents is demonstrated. This highlights the urgent need to regulate and monitor the expansion of new pig farms in Yucatan. Results introduce evidence-based criteria and their thresholds for achieving water sustainability in the pig sector at the municipal level (Pigs/ha = 1.0 and WPL < 1.1). This facilitated a concerted effort between national and state authorities to limit the proliferation of pig farms in order to safeguard the aquifer’s water quality.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su17073069

Authors: Adrián Pedrozo-Acuña, Norma Ramírez-Salinas, Camilo Vázquez-Bustos

Institutions: Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Language: English

Topic: Karst Systems and Hydrogeology

Subfield: Earth-Surface Processes

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Zero hunger, Responsible consumption and production, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896