Water, well and septic
Securing water and wastewater: a network connection, or a cistern plus trucked water, or a licensed well; and a septic system where there's no sewer.
Why it matters
The building license asks for the feasibility letter and a sanitation design.
Who helps
OOMSAPAS (La Paz or Los Cabos), CONAGUA (wells and discharges), and your engineer.
What to do: Choose your water source and plan a septic system if there's no sewer.
Documents
- Preliminary plans, the percolation test, and the power.
Off-grid water options (no network)
- Cistern + trucked water (cisterna + pipa): the most common setup in rural Pescadero and Todos Santos. Size the cistern for at least a few weeks of use.
- Rainwater is scarce in BCS but can supplement during the summer storm season.
- Small reverse-osmosis or desalination units for brackish wells; a well still needs its concession, and brine discharge may need a CONAGUA discharge permit.
- Wastewater: a septic tank and drain field (or a small treatment unit) designed from the percolation test; discharges to the ground fall under CONAGUA rules (NOM-006-CONAGUA for septic tanks).
- Costs for these systems: no published figure; get quotes.
Common mistakes
- A "no service" answer still counts as the letter, so file it anyway.
- Drilling a well without a concession. Under the 2025 law this can be a crime.
Say it in Spanish
- Necesitamos la factibilidad de agua potable y alcantarillado.
We need the water and sewer feasibility letter.
Terms
Confirm the details for your case with your notario or attorney.