Cancún clears storm drain wells in nine districts to prevent street flooding

The Benito Juárez city government is continuing to clean storm vaults and absorption wells across Cancún to reduce the street flooding that seasonal rains leave behind. According to the municipality, on Friday, October 9, the Public Services department handled 20 resident reports with a crew of seven workers, who removed mud and trash built up in the stormwater system.

Where crews worked

According to the city's report, crews worked in supermanzanas (districts) 46, 50, 51, 92, 259, 500, 505, 510 and 523, as well as on stretches of José López Portillo, Leona Vicario, Palenque and Yaxchilán avenues and the Arco Norte area. Two work sites ran at the same time in SM 92.

Absorption wells are the main way rainwater drains into the ground in Cancún. When they clog with leaves, sand, bags or bottles, water pools in the street and can take hours or days to recede, snarling traffic and damaging cars and homes.

How to report a clogged drain

The city asks residents to send any request through ChatCun, its WhatsApp service line: 998 778 4500. To speed things up, include:

• Supermanzana, block and street (or a clear landmark).
• A photo of the blocked well or grate.
• Whether the street floods every time it rains.

You can also call City Hall at (998) 881 2800.

What you can do

The municipality urged residents not to litter, since street trash ends up in storm grates. Water utility Aguakan adds its own advice through its 2026 Drenaje Sano (Healthy Drains) campaign: do not flush or pour plastics, wet wipes, diapers, medicines, or cooking oil and grease into the sewer. The company says it removes more than 1,200 cubic meters of waste from the sewer network each year, and that these blockages cause sewage overflows and service interruptions.

Know who to call: a storm drain or street grate is the city's responsibility (ChatCun), while a sewage overflow or a backed-up sewer access point should be reported to Aguakan at (998) 891 4860.

Before heavy rain, check that the drain in front of your home or business is clear of leaves and trash, and avoid sweeping sand or dirt into it. It's a simple step that helps keep your street from flooding.