PBS’s POV presented The Age of Water, the revealing debut feature from sibling co-directors Isabel Alcántara Atalaya and Alfredo Alcántara, on Sept. 8 at 10 p.m., streaming through Dec. 7. Produced by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster, along with Lindsay Perna, and co-presented by Latino Public Broadcasting, the documentary examined the devastating health and environmental consequences of industrial farming in central Mexico.
Set in La Cantera, a remote town in Guanajuato, the film followed two mothers, Nely Baeza and Elia Zarazua, whose lives were upended after three children died from aggressive leukemia within a single year. In response, they became determined activists, forming the civil group MAYOYE—named after the initials of their deceased children—to investigate the epidemic.
With the help of Dr. Adrián Ortega, a hydrogeologist from Mexico City, they tested local wells and uncovered radioactive contamination levels four times higher than normal. The contamination stemmed from ancient aquifers drained by industrial farms growing water-intensive crops such as strawberries, broccoli, and asparagus for export to the United States. La Cantera’s limited rainfall compounded the long-term health risks to residents.
As the mothers organized rallies, confronted officials, and exposed environmental racism, they faced intense backlash, community divisions, and government denial, reflecting broader patterns of repression against environmental defenders across Latin America.
The directors’ multi-year relationship with the community allowed them unprecedented access, including interviews with Humberto Navarro, the Water Commissioner of the region, whose office had previously denied the contamination claims. This access created a compelling portrait of environmental injustice and the courage required to confront it.
La Cantera’s struggle resonated beyond Mexico, drawing parallels to dropping water tables in California’s Central Valley, Southern Arizona, and the American Midwest. Co-director Alfredo Alcántara said, “My sister Isabel and I grew up in Mexico, just a few miles from La Cantera… When we met the group of women in the film, we were immediately inspired by their journey to find answers, and we felt a sense of responsibility to share their story.”
Chris White, Executive Producer of POV, added, “We are reminded that access to clean water is not only vital, but a measure of equity, resilience, and survival… Public media is proud to showcase a film that boldly uncovers the injustice around access to clean resources.”
Sandie Viquez Pedlow, executive director of Latino Public Broadcasting, said, “It’s films like this–that take us to a place we’ve never been and tell a remarkable story we otherwise might never know about–that remind us of the extraordinary value of our nation’s public media.”