Utilities by town: water, power, sewer and internet before you buy
Confirm in writing which services reach the lot and what it costs to connect. Water comes from the municipal water utility (OOMSAPAS) where there's a network, or from trucks (pipas), wells or desalination elsewhere. Power comes from CFE; far from the lines you may need solar.
Why it matters
BCS is arid and several aquifers are over-allocated. A cheap lot can get expensive if it needs a power-line extension, a cistern and trucked water.
Who helps
A gestor (or you yourself) requests feasibility letters (factibilidad) from the water utility and CFE. Your attorney checks the seller isn't promising services that don't exist.
Documents
- Water/sewer feasibility letter from the municipal utility
- CFE feasibility or extension budget (presupuesto de obra)
- For wells: CONAGUA concession title or registration
By municipality
- La Paz: the municipal utility covers the city; Todos Santos and El Pescadero have partial networks, and many homes use cisterns and trucks.
- Los Cabos: the municipal utility, with desalinated supply in parts; East Cape areas are often off-grid.
- Comondú: the municipal utility serves Ciudad Constitución and towns; the Magdalena Bay coast is more limited.
- Loreto: the municipal utility serves town; Nopoló and the south coast vary by development.
- Mulegé: the municipal utility serves Santa Rosalía, Mulegé and Guerrero Negro; remote bays such as Bahía Concepción are usually off-grid.
Coverage changes; confirm with the utility.
Costs Estimate
- Water connection where a network exists: often a few hundred to a few thousand US$ (estimate).
- CFE line extension (aportación): can reach five figures in US$ for remote lots (estimate).
- Off-grid solar plus cistern as an alternative: compare total cost (estimate).
Estimates only. Get written quotes.
Common mistakes
- Relying on a verbal 'the water is coming soon'.
- Assuming you can drill a well; new well rights are restricted in many BCS aquifers.
- Ignoring water-truck supply and price in the dry season.
Say it in Spanish
- ¿Me puede dar la carta de factibilidad de agua para este lote?
Could you give me the water feasibility letter for this lot? - ¿Qué tan lejos está el poste de luz más cercano?
How far is the nearest power pole?
Confirm the details for your case with your notario or attorney.
Common questions
Is there water on my lot?
Ask the municipal water utility for a feasibility letter. Many areas rely on cisterns and water trucks.
How much does it cost to bring power to a lot?
CFE quotes extensions case by case. Remote lots can be expensive; compare with off-grid solar.