The mine is attempting to correct this problem. Copper is affecting the water supplies for Ejido Morelos and Ejido Zapata. There is arsenic in the water wells that serve Cananea. Mineral discharge goes into the wells connected to the Sonoran River and affects all the towns and Hermosillo. Ejido San Pedro has the additional problem of sewage flowing straight into the river.
Land affected by water contamination looks white.
Cattle are being affected by mining wastes and raw sewage in the water. The Naco constructed wetlands are no longer running efficiently. Overexploitation of the underground water reserves is a problem. Water levels are dropping in the underground aquifer because the mining industry is overpumping. The current drought has also affected water levels.