Introduction
The growth of productive and commercial establishments in urban areas affects the type and quantity of wastewater they generate and discharge into wetlands, which affects the water quality depending on whether the discharged water is treated or untreated.
Methods
The methodological design used was mixed, exploratory and descriptive, and involved the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, which was carried out via primary and secondary sources through field trips and review and analysis of documents, records, and cartography. Therefore, this study analyzed the growth of industrial, mining, construction, commercial, electricity generation, water, natural gas, agriculture, livestock, fishing, and aquaculture establishments from 2010 to 2025. The analysis was based on the records of economic units registered in the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units (DENUE) of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) of Mexico and the water quality in the wetlands where wastewater from the urban area of Mazatlán is discharged, based on information from the reports of the National Water Quality Monitoring Network (RENAMECA) of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA).
Results
It was found that there are a total of 26,949 operating economic units, with only 8 Wastewater Treatment Plants currently discharging into the urban wetlands.
Conclusions
It is concluded that the current wastewater treatment capacity is insufficient for the growth of the economic units that have been operating over the past 15 years.