The head of the federal water authority in Baja California Sur is once again under fire, this time facing a formal legislative demand for his removal. Morena deputy Sergio Ricardo Huerta Leggs filed an exhortation in the state Congress calling for the dismissal of Julio César Villarreal Trasviña, the local delegate of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), citing alleged abuse of authority, institutional violence, and possible violations of women’s rights.
For residents and expats across BCS, the accusations matter because CONAGUA controls water concessions, well permits, and much of the infrastructure that keeps taps running — or not running — in communities from Cabo to La Paz. The deputy’s complaint is not just political theater. It touches on real concerns about water governance and accountability in a state where supply problems have become a flashpoint.
A Repeat Performance
This is not the first time Huerta Leggs has called for Villarreal’s ouster. More than a year ago, he publicly criticized the CONAGUA delegate for closing wells in the Migriño area, a decision that left around 60 neighborhoods in Cabo San Lucas without water deliveries by truck. The deputy claimed the move was politically motivated rather than based on technical need, affecting thousands of families in the middle of the tourist corridor.
Blocked Legislative Work
The latest legislative push follows accusations by Deputy Karina Olivas Parra, who said Villarreal blocked a scheduled talk she was meant to give to CONAGUA employees as part of the Miércoles Naranja program, which addresses women’s rights and legislative work. According to the complaint, communications between the agency and the union suggest the cancellation was deliberate. Huerta Leggs argues this could constitute political violence against women and institutional abuse, given that it allegedly obstructed a female legislator’s official duties.
Union Workers Join the Complaint
Water union workers have also raised their voices. In June, syndicated staff at CONAGUA’s La Paz offices staged protests and submitted a formal letter to President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, requesting Villarreal’s removal. They accused him of workplace harassment, calling employees lazy, and blocking career advancement for union members. One worker with base status was reportedly dismissed from a mid-level management role under claims of lost trust, a move the union says reflects a broader pattern of arbitrary decision-making.
Union leader Baldemar Siqueiros said around 20 employees face barriers to promotion because Villarreal personally controls hiring and evaluation processes. “They can compete for a position, but he writes the exam, he conducts the interview, and he makes the hire,” Siqueiros said during the June demonstration. “Our colleagues can’t advance because they hit a wall here.”
What Happens Next
Huerta Leggs pointed out in his legislative address that CONAGUA is a strategic agency in BCS, responsible for overseeing well concessions and water infrastructure in a state grappling with chronic supply challenges. He argued that the federal delegate’s alleged conduct — described as domineering, opaque, and confrontational — runs counter to the transparency and accountability principles promoted by the current administration.
The deputy’s exhortation now heads to the relevant legislative committee. If approved, it would be forwarded to federal authorities with a formal request for Villarreal’s dismissal. Whether that happens depends on how seriously Mexico City takes a complaint coming from a state legislature.
For now, Villarreal remains in his post. In a June statement to local media, he said all decisions made by his office comply with existing regulations and denied allegations of wrongdoing. But the accusations keep piling up, and in a state where water is both scarce and politically charged, questions about who controls it — and how — are not going away quietly.
