Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Oct. 8, 2026 — SEAPAL reported added wastewater pumping capacity Oct. 7 while a six-week sewer project, begun Oct. 6, brought partial closures to Las Palmas Avenue.
In its latest operational update, the utility said it installed new pumping equipment at the Norte I wastewater treatment plant. Crews also washed and disinfected affected streets in Versalles.
The utility’s construction notice set Oct. 6 as the start date for the pipe work. SEAPAL estimates the project will take about six weeks.
Lane restrictions on Las Palmas Avenue
For residents and commuters, the immediate disruption centers on Las Palmas Avenue near its intersection with Avenida México.
According to SEAPAL’s lane-by-lane work plan, restrictions apply to Las Palmas Avenue, not Avenida México. Crews will work on one lane at a time, keeping the four-lane avenue open to traffic.
SEAPAL director Carlos Ruiz said partial closures will allow traffic to continue during construction. He warned of slower traffic and possible odors when crews connect the sewer pipes.
Ruiz said municipal traffic officers and other departments will coordinate the work to limit disruption.
The project replaces a section of sewer pipe and adjusts its diameter to prevent recurring blockages, Ruiz said. He identified Villas Universidad, Versalles and Parque Las Palmas as neighborhoods affected by the problem.
Pumping repairs and street cleanup in Versalles
At Norte I, SEAPAL attributed equipment damage to recent rains associated with Polo and Rachel. The utility said the additional pumping equipment increases wastewater flow into treatment.
SEAPAL reported that the work has lowered levels in the sewer network and reduced overflow risks, particularly in Versalles. Its statement described an ongoing operation to address conditions in the neighborhood.
For the street cleanup, SEAPAL said crews used water tanker trucks to wash affected surfaces. They also applied sodium hypochlorite as part of the sanitation work.
The two operations address different parts of the wastewater system. SEAPAL’s update concerns pumping at the treatment plant; Ruiz’s construction announcement concerns blockages in the pipes carrying sewage.
A bottleneck within a larger sewer problem
Ruiz described the pipe restriction in a Sept. 30 explanation of the drainage problems. He said a 48-inch collector narrows to 24 inches at the intersection of Avenida México and Las Palmas Avenue.
That reduction causes repeated clogging, Ruiz said. He described the work at the intersection as a measure to contain or reduce sewage overflows.
We previously reported SEAPAL’s funding gap for a wider sewer overhaul serving Versalles. In his Sept. 30 comments, Ruiz put the cost of fully rehabilitating the collector at 650 million pesos.
“Right now, we do not have the funding,” Ruiz said, referring to that broader project. He said SEAPAL would seek state and federal support while continuing mitigation, containment, and sanitation work.
