National Water Program 2007-2012

February 2008 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Various different institutions, organizations, experts, and persons interested in water-related themes in our country participated in the preparation of this Program, and we would like to express our sincere appreciation for all their contributions, as well as the time and dedication they devoted to this. Their involvement has been essential for the production of the National Water Program 2007-2012.

NOTICE The reproduction, without alterations, of the material contained in this work is authorized for use without profit and citing the source.

National Water Program 2007-2012 ISBN 978-968-817-893-5 2008 Edition

Author: Comisión Nacional del Agua Insurgentes Sur No. 2416 Col. Copilco El Bajo C.P. 04340, Coyoacán, México, D.F. Tel. (55) 5174-4473 www.conagua.gob.mx

Publisher: Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales Boulevard Adolfo Ruiz Cortines No. 4209 Col. Jardines en la Montaña C.P. 14210, Tlalpan, México, D.F.

Printed in Mexico Free distribution. May not be sold.

For further information, please contact: Subdirección General de Programación Comisión Nacional del Agua [email protected] National Water Commission

Director General’s Office

Coordination of Advisors to the Director General

Deputy Director General’s Office for Administration

Deputy Director General’s Office for Water Management

Deputy Director General’s Office for Drinking Water, Sewerage, and Sanitation

Deputy Director General’s Office for Hydro-agricultural Infrastructure

Deputy Director General’s Office for Legal Affairs

Deputy Director General’s Office for Planning

Deputy Director General’s Office for Technical Affairs

General Coordination for Attention to Emergencies and River Basin Councils

General Coordination for Institutional Attention, Communication, and Water Culture

General Coordination for Fiscal Revision and Payments

General Coordination of the National Meteorological Service

Internal Control Agency Felipe Calderón Hinojosa President of Mexico

In this government administration, we this National Water Program we are pre- have set as our major objective that of sus- senting here. The objectives pursued by tainable human development, i.e., seeing this program are as follows: to it that all Mexicans may live a dignified 1. That Mexicans, both in cities and in rural life without compromising the heritage of communities, have adequate drinking future generations. water and sewerage services; We have included this objective in our 2. That wastewater be treated and reused; National Development Plan 2007-2012, 3. That our productive sector, includ- as well as in the vision we have charted ing agriculture and industry, have the for our country to the year 2030. One of water it requires; the guiding principles of these two proj- 4. That all of us utilize water efficiently ects is environmental sustainability. and that we pay a fair price for con- Thanks to the efforts and commit- suming it; ment of all Mexicans, and our love for 5. That we conserve our rivers, lakes, our country, without a doubt we will be aquifers, and wetlands so that they able to preserve and respect our natural have clean water, in order to guaran- resources, while also building a nation tee the present and future well-being that grows and develops for all of us. of all Mexicans, as well as the preser- Of all our natural resources, water is vation of our environment. the most important one for maintaining I am certain that if we all act respon- our people’s quality of life and, in general, sibly, with great love for our country, we for all of this country’s economic activi- may together reach the goals that have ties. For this reason, the conservation of been established in Mexico’s National our country’s aquifers is now more urgent Water Program 2007-2012 and thus con- than ever before. tinue to build the country we want for In this six-year administration we have ourselves and for our children. Together proposed very ambitious goals, which are we shall construct a Mexico that will last included in the National Development forever. Plan, in the Sectoral Program for the Envi- ronment and Natural Resources, and in

4 Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources

Water is indispensable for guarantee- We should point out that to have a ing our country’s great natural wealth. better life, we must take much greater Let us recall that Mexico is among the care of our environment and act in a much five major megadiverse nations of the more efficient fashion, making wiser use world, ranking first in terms of its number of our natural resources and wasting them of reptile species; second in mammal as little as possible. species; fourth in amphibians; and fifth in A fundamental aspect consists of plant species. In addition, a large percent- achieving greater commitment and efforts age of its species are endemic. towards coordination among the federal Therefore, we have the ethical and government and state and municipal gov- moral duty to conserve our great natural ernments, non-governmental organiza- riches in order to ensure a dignified life tions, and our citizens in general so we for the Mexicans of today and tomorrow. may continue to move forward together Our responsibility towards future genera- towards the future we have charted for tions is to preserve the natural resources ourselves. that are just as much theirs as ours. To that end, our River Basin Coun- One of our major challenges is to cils and their auxiliary bodies play a very achieve hydrological balance in this coun- important role in drafting and imple- try’s surface waters and groundwaters menting local and regional programs and so as to meet the demand of all users, actions since they involve participation by including ecosystems. the communities and also promote train- This takes on particular relevance ing among the population and the con- due to the fact that in some parts of our struction of a new water culture. country, water is very scarce, and thus it is The National Water Program 2007- essential to optimize its use in our homes 2012, which we present in this document, and in all our productive activities, e.g., in clearly defines the path to be followed agriculture, industry, services, and electri- and the goals to be achieved so we may cal power generation. It is equally neces- forge a better future for us all through sary to increase water reuse in order to sustainable water use and environmental cut back the volumes of extraction from conservation. the different supply sources and reduce the pressure currently exerted on them.

5 José Luis Luege Tamargo Director General of the National Water Commission

In the following pages, we present the In order to meet current challenges and National Water Program 2007-2012, the reach the goals set, an essential factor is result of Mexico’s accumulated experience the joint, harmonious work of the institu- which, at the same time, lends continuity tions and organizations that participate to the outstanding water tradition we have in water management and conservation. inherited. We have a clear idea of what we want to The Program takes into account reflec- achieve and how to do so, and for this, we tions and concepts stemming from the must work hand in hand. Fourth World Water Forum, held in our Our day-to-day efforts will allow us to country, in addition to the proposals that recover our rivers, lakes, aquifers, and wet- our country has put forth at the interna- lands, and ensure that water continues to tional level. be a source of well-being and prosperity. So as to enhance this program, a public All of us will travel down the path we consultation was held, as well as a series have traced for ourselves with solid plan- of workshops on topics of special rele- ning processes and growing social par- vance, which were attended by specialists ticipation which, among other benefits, and persons interested in the manage- shall provide continuity to the actions pro- ment and conservation of water and the posed. environment. Continuous assessment of our perfor- The program centers around sustain- mance and of the progress achieved will able human development and the vision enable us to redirect our course and take we have specifically proposed with regard full advantage of the experience amassed, to water. Let us remember that in the always striving to improve. future, we wish to be a nation that has suf- We will always be conscious of the ficient water in both quantity and quality, future we have charted for ourselves as a acknowledges its strategic value, utilizes it country and, undoubtedly, this will serve efficiently, and protects its water bodies, as our motivation and will guide us. We so as to guarantee sustainable develop- will work together and together we will ment and preserve the environment. reach the goals we have set, to the benefit This program is comprised of eight of present and future generations. objectives, for each of which relevant strategies and goals have been established.

6 Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction and current situation 9 Chapter 2. Process for preparing the National Water Program 2007-2012 17 Chapter 3. Guiding objectives of the water sector 21 Objective 1. To improve water productivity in the agricultural sector 23 Objective 2. To increase access to and quality of drinking water, sewerage, and sanitation services 37 Objective 3. To promote integrated, sustainable water management in river basins and aquifers 49 Objective 4. To enhance the technical, administrative, and financial development of the water sector 69 Objective 5. To consolidate the participation of users and organized society in water management and to promote a culture for the proper use of this resource 81 Objective 6. To prevent risks related to meteorological and hydrometeorological events and attend to their effects 93 Objective 7. To assess the effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle 105 Objective 8. To create a culture for paying duties and complying with the Law on National Waters in its administrative aspects 111 Chapter 4. Research, technological development, and human resource training in the water sector 121 Chapter 5. Mexico and the international context 129

Chapter 1

Introduction and current situation

The National Development Plan 2007- given its importance for our country’s 2012 is centered around the basic social well-being and economic develop- premise of seeking to achieve sustain- ment, and the preservation of its ecologi- able human development, i.e., seeing to cal riches. it that all Mexicans may live a dignified When we associate water with social life without compromising the heritage of well-being, essentially we are referring to future generations. the provision of drinking water supply and In this regard, adequate water man- sewerage services for the Mexican popula- agement and conservation has a key role, tion, as well as wastewater treatment.

Relationship between drinking water coverage and mortality due to diarrheal diseases 140

92 120

100 87 80

82 60

coverage 40 100,000 minors

77 under 5 for every

% Drinking water 20 Mortality rate in children

72 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Years Coverage Rate Mortality Rate

Source: Ministry of Health, Head Office for Performance Assessment.

9 needs to foster the preservation of our country’s extraordinary flora y fauna, unique in the world.

Vision of Mexico regarding water and the current situation We wish to be a nation that has sufficient water in both quantity and quality, acknowledges its strategic value, utilizes it efficiently, and protects its water bodies, so as to guarantee sustainable development and preserve the environment. To that effect, we need to take into account a series of challenges associated both with the natural features of our ter- As far as economic development is con- ritory and with the intense population cerned, we value the importance of water growth we have experienced in recent as an input for productive activities, for decades. example, in agriculture, electrical power A key factor in water management and generation, tourism, and industry. availability is the occurrence of rain, which While it is acknowledged that water in Mexico presents noticeable variations. should provide social well-being and While it is very scarce in Baja California support economic development, it also –which receives just 202 mm of rain-

Distribution of historical monthly mean precipitation in Mexico

mm 1500 1000 750 500 250 100 50 0

Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

10 fall per year–, the State of Tabasco gets Historical monthly mean normal precipitation(1941-2006) twelve times as much, averaging 2,410 mm a year. 160 We should also point out that, in general, 140 67% of the rain we receive occurs in just 120 four months of the year, namely from June 100 to September, and this makes it hard to 80 take advantage of it properly, thus making 60 it necessary to build major infrastructure 40 for collecting and storing it. rainHeightinmillimiters of 20 It is important for us to always bear in 0 mind that two-thirds of the land in Mexico Jan FebMar Apr May JunJul Aug Sep Oct NovDec is arid or semi-arid, which necessitates the Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission. efficient use of water in all our activities, ranging from irrigation to industry to our of inhabitants rose from 11 million to 79 homes. million in the above-mentioned period. The above situation becomes particu- At the national level, the greatest popula- larly relevant if we consider that Mexico’s tion and economic growth has taken place population has quadrupled in the past 55 in areas with less water availability. There- years, going from 25 million inhabitants in fore, in the central and northern regions 1950 to 103 million in the year 2005. There of the country, we find 31% of national is a marked concentration of the popula- water availability, with 77% of the popu- tion in urban zones, where the number lation, a situation in sharp contrast with

Evolution of the population, 1910-2005

125

100

50 Mllions of Inhabitant 25

0 1910 1921 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 1995 2000 2005 Rural 10.8 9.9 11.0 12.8 14.8 17.2 19.9 22.5 23.3 24.2 24.7 24.3 Urban 4.3 4.4 5.6 6.9 11.0 17.7 28.3 44.358.067.072.879.0 Total 15.2 14.3 16.6 19.7 25.8 34.9 48.2 66.881.291.297.5103.3 Years

Source: INEGI National Institute for Statistics, Geography, and Informatics. General Censuses and Population and Housing Counts.

11 meters per inhabitant per year to only Evolution of water availability in Mexico (m3/inhab/yr) 20,000 4,416, which places it in a delicate situ- 18,035 18,000 ation. 16,000 Moreover, we should mention that 14,000 13,319 given our country’s geographical loca- 12,000 tion, it is periodically subject to hurricanes 10,000 9,645 and droughts that cause serious damage 8,000 6,958 5,725 6,000 4,771 in large portions of our territory, and it is 4,416 4,000 expected they will be even more frequent 2,000 and intense due to the effects associated 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2006 with climate change.

Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission. Hurricanes that have hit Mexico, 1980-2006

Category 3 to 5 Average water availability in different countries Zone Number (winds over 180 (m3/inhab/yr) km/h) Canada 90,767 Brazil 45,039 Pacific 33 5 Argentina 20,707 Indonesia 12,596 Bangladesh 7,934 Atlantic 14 6 United States 6,902 Mexico 4,416 Japan 3,362 Total 47 11 France 3,355 Turkey 3,128 Spain 2,707 Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Nigeria 2,198 Water Commission. China 2,127 India 1,729 South Africa 1,103 The damages associated with hurri- Morocco 919 canes are increasingly more serious due Egypt 779 to the location of irregular human settle- Source: FAO. Information System on Water and Agriculture, Aquastat. June, 2007. For ments in areas close to rivers, the lack of the case of Mexico, National Water Commission. enforcement of land use regulations, and deforestation in the upper portions of river the southeastern part of Mexico, where basins, the effect of which is reflected in we find 69% of our water availability and an increase in runoff and the transporta- only 23% of the country’s inhabitants. tion of soils and sediments towards the One reference parameter used through- lower portions. out the world with regard to water is per With regard to droughts, they occur capita availability. In just 56 years, Mexico every year in different parts of Mexico went from an availability of 18,035 cubic and their duration varies; the zone most

12 affected by droughts is the north due to its location on this hemisphere’s desert belt. We should also note that even in areas of our country that have traditionally enjoyed an abundance of water, droughts may occur causing problems of lack of water supply. Lastly, we must mention that with the exception of the effects of the earth- quakes in 1985, Mexico’s greatest losses due to disasters have been related to the occurrence of hurricanes and droughts.

Water uses As regards water uses, the volume of water granted in the form of concessions up to December 2006 –without including the generation of hydroelectric power– was 77.321 billion cubic meters. Of that total, 77% was for agricultural uses, 14% for public use, and 9% for industries that

Water uses in Mexico

Public 14%

Industrial 9%

Agricultural 77%

Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

13 Countries ranked by their percentage of agricultural water use (data from a list of 155 countries) Total water Agricultural obtain water from rivers and aquifers. No. Country extraction use % Here we should comment that when we (hm3) (hm3) refer to agricultural uses, this includes 1 Somalia 3,300 3,280 99 agriculture itself, livestock, aquaculture, 2 Myanmar 33,220 32,640 98 and others, as is set down in the classifi- 3 Afghanistan 23,260 22,840 98 cation in the Law on National Waters. 11 Uruguay 3,150 3,030 96 This pattern of distribution is common 13 Pakistan 169,380 162,650 96 in different developing countries, since the 14 Madagascar 14,970 14,310 96 predominant use of this resource is in agri- 18 Thailand 87,070 82,750 95 culture, unlike many developed countries 60 Mexico 77,300 59,400 77 where the utilization of water is efficient 64 Turkey 37,520 27,860 74 in the case of the majority of its uses, and 77 Spain 35,630 24,240 68 the greatest consumption is in industry, 92 South Africa 12,496 7,836 63 mainly thermoelectric plants. 96 Brazil 59,300 36,630 62 In the realm of hydroelectric power 118 United States 479,290 197,750 41 generation, the volume of water granted 139 France 39,960 3,920 10 in concessions until December 2006 was Fuente: FAO. Information System on Water and Agriculture, Aquastat. June, 2007. For the case of Mexico, National Water Commission. 158.566 billion cubic meters. Of these, Countries ranked by their percentage of industrial during that year 140.295 billion cubic water use meters were utilized to generate 13.2% of (data from a list of 155 countries) the country’s electrical power (the capacity Total water Industrial No. Country extraction use % in Mexico’s hydroelectric plants accounts (hm3) (hm3) for 21.5% of the total installed capacity in 1 Belize 120 110 92 the country). 2 Finland 2,480 2,070 83 With regard to the utilization of water, 3 Poland 16,200 12,750 79 use efficiencies are still very low; in the 6 United Kingdom 9,540 7,190 75 agricultural sector, they fluctuate between 7 France 39,960 29,760 74 33% and 55%, whereas in the cities, they 8 Switzerland 2,570 1,900 74 range from 50% to 70%. 9 Canada 45,970 31,570 69 Moreover, it has not been possible to 10 Germany 47,050 31,930 68 build awareness among our population 13 Austria 2,110 1,350 64 of the importance and need to ensure the 14 Russia 76,690 48,660 63 proper use, conservation, and due payment 15 Netherlands 7,940 4,760 60 of water. 19 Sweden 2,970 1,610 54 It is also important to consider that in 22 United States 479,290 220,690 46 different metropolitan areas of the country, 43 Spain 35,630 6,600 19 water supply sources and hydraulic infra- 46 Brazil 59,300 10,650 18 structure, both in the realm of drinking 67 Turkey 37,520 4,110 11 water and in that of sanitation, are insuf- 75 Mexico 77,300 7,200 9 87 South Africa 12,496 756 6 Fuente: FAO. Information System on Water and Agriculture, Aquastat. June, 2007. For the case of Mexico, National Water Commission.

14 ficient to meet the population’s needs. An Current water resources example of this is the Valley of Mexico, Due to low water use efficiencies, in addi- whose sewerage system is especially vul- tion to Mexico’s incessant population nerable during the rainy season. growth and low water availability, the Similarly, it is necessary to revise and water in our rivers and lakes has become update the legal framework concerning insufficient in certain zones, the sources water in our states and municipalities, since of groundwater supply are overexploited, in some cases there is overlapping that is and the natural quality of water has dete- not very clear in the three tiers of govern- riorated. ment (federal, state, and municipal), which This has brought on growing competi- produces uncertainty and diminishes the tion for water, which has translated into social, economic, and environmental ben- conflicts in different areas of Mexico and efits to be derived in our country’s different is beginning to negatively affect social river basins. well-being and economic development. To conclude, we must stress that in Revenues order to face current challenges, it is It is important to point out that with the indispensable for us to strengthen the exception of agricultural users, other water sector in technical terms, for this users must pay for the use, exploitation sector is key to the country’s well-being or usufruct of national waters. Although and progress. these funds are important for ensuring the proper development of the water sector, in recent years collection has remained constant, despite the fact that the volumes of water utilized are increasingly greater.

Revenues of the National Water Commission

12,000

9,669 10,000 9,007 8,830 8,566 8,287 8,353 7,940 8,088 8,064 7,901 8,133 8,000 7,241 7,374 constant 2006 prices) constant 2006 6,000 Amount (millions of pesos at 4,000

2,000

0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

15 16 Chapter 2

Process for preparing the National Water Program 2007-2012

The National Water Program was pre- future that we Mexicans wish to achieve pared on the basis of the following: over a period of 23 years, according to • National Development Plan 2007- what has been established in the Vision 2012. Mexico 2030 project. • National Infrastructure Plan 2007- In the above-mentioned plan, national 2012. objectives and strategies are set forth • Sectoral Program for the Environment for each of the five major lines of public and Natural Resources 2007-2012. policy comprising it, as well as a set of • National Water Programs prepared goals associated with those objectives and in previous government administra- strategies. These lines are as follows: tions. 1. Rule of law and security. • Water programs for each hydrologi- 2. Competitive, job-creating economy. cal-administrative region. 3. Equality of opportunities. • Workshops held on topics of special 4. Environmental sustainability. relevance. 5. Effective democracy and responsible • A public consultation carried out foreign policy. through the National Water Commis- Within this framework, the National sion’s web page. Water Program includes the objectives, The National Development Plan 2007- strategies, and goals that have been set 2012 is the document serving as a guide in the National Development Plan with for public policies, and is grounded to a regard to water management and con- large extent on the perspective for the servation.

17 In addition, it assimilates the concepts, Agency, which is an office of the National proposals, and goals established in the Water Commission. Sectoral Program for the Environment In the different stages of the process and Natural Resources 2007-2012. of drafting the aforementioned programs, It is worth pointing out that our country the River Basin Councils took part. These has had a broad tradition and outstand- are entities geared to promoting agree- ing capacities in terms of its water sector. ment and coordination among users, By virtue of this, when preparing the officials, and organized society, and were current water program, the concepts, created in the Law on National Waters. visions, and principles stated in previ- So as to enhance the contents of the ous national water programs, as well as National Water Program 2007-2012, the a series of strategic documents prepared National Water Commission coordinated by the National Water Commission, have the design of eight workshops that were been taken as a frame of reference. attended by more than 650 specialists Similarly, the objectives, strategies, and and other persons interested in water- indicators included in the water programs related topics. worked out in recent years for each of As a complementary measure, an Mexico’s 13 hydrological-administrative evaluation was conducted of the propos- regions have been considered. In each als put forth by the participants in the of these regions, there is a River Basin workshops organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources as part of the preparation of the Sectoral Program for the Environment and Natural Resources. In addition, for the purpose of obtaining information from the public as to their concerns and proposals, in the National Water Commission’s web page (www. conagua.gob.mx) a public consultation was implemented. To facilitate this consultation, basic information was provided on water issues.

18 Hydrological-administrative regions

II VI

III VII

VIII XIII XII IV X

V XI

Hydrological-administrative regions and cities where the National Water Commission’s River Basin Agencies are located

I. Baja California Peninsula (Mexicali, Baja California). II. Northwest (Hermosillo, Sonora). III. Northern Pacific (Culiacán, Sinaloa). IV. Balsas (Cuernavaca, Morelos). V Southern Pacific (Oaxaca, Oaxaca). VI. Río Bravo (Monterrey, Nuevo León). VII. Central Basins of the North (Torreón, Coahuila). VIII. Lerma-Santiago-Pacific (Guadalajara, Jalisco). IX. Northern Gulf (Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas). X Central Gulf (Jalapa, Veracruz). XI. Southern Border (Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas). XII. Yucatán Peninsula (Mérida, Yucatán). XIII. Waters of the Valley of Mexico (Mexico City, Federal District).

19 Workshops held as part of the process for preparing the National Water Program 2007-2012

OBJECTIVE Place held Date Participants To increase access to and quality of drinking water, sewerage, and Guadalajara, March 28 59 sanitation services Jalisco To promote integrated, sustainable water management in river Cuernavaca, March 29 73 basins and aquifers Morelos To assess the effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle Mexico City March 30 53 To enhance the technical, administrative, and financial development Monterrey, Nuevo April 13 130 of the water sector León To consolidate the participation of users and organized society in San Juan del Río, water management and to promote a culture for the proper use of April 13 70 Querétaro this resource To prevent risks related to meteorological and hydro-meteorological Mérida, Yucatán April 13 73 events and attend to their effects To improve water productivity in the agricultural sector Mexico City April 16 121 To create a culture for paying duties and complying with the Law on Mexico City April 16 90 National Waters in its administrative aspects

Basic principles in water This is because a river basin is a natural management in Mexico geographical unit that may cover several Our country’s national water policy is states. In a river basin, rainwater precipi- grounded on a series of basic principles, tates, is filtered, or occurs as runoff until among which the following are most out- it then flows into the ocean or to some standing: inland basin. 1. Water management should be Water management in this country also carried out according to river basins. takes into account that in order for the 2. Organized participation of users actions effected to be successful, the par- is a fundamental factor for achieving the ticipation of users is indispensable, from objectives proposed. the definition of objectives and identifi- The decision has been made to cation and prioritization of the series of manage water according to river basins problems to be solved, to the implemen- and not geographical-political boundaries tation of necessary actions. such as the states comprising the country.

20 Chapter 3

Guiding objectives of the water sector

We wish to be a nation that has suffi- 5. To consolidate the participation of users cient water in both quantity and quality, and organized society in water man- acknowledges its strategic value, utilizes it agement and to promote a culture for efficiently, and protects its water bodies, the proper use of this resource. so as to guarantee sustainable develop- 6. To prevent risks related to meteorologi- ment and preserve the environment. cal and hydrometeorological events To fulfill these purposes and on the and attend to their effects. basis of progress made in recent years 7. To assess the effects of climate change and also an analysis of our current situ- on the hydrological cycle. ation, the following objectives have been 8. To create a culture for paying duties and established in the National Water Program complying with the Law on National 2007-2012: Waters in its administrative aspects. 1. To improve water productivity in the For each of these objectives, strategies agricultural sector. and also related goals have been estab- 2. To increase access to and quality of lished. Moreover, a list is provided of the drinking water, sewerage, and sanita- institutions and organizations that play tion services. a key role in attaining each one, as well 3. To promote integrated, sustainable as the challenges to be met for achieving water management in river basins and the proposed goals. aquifers. 4. To enhance the technical, administrative, and financial development of the water sector.

21 22 OBJECTIVE 1. To improve water productivity in the agricultural sector

The area devoted to agriculture in Mexico is Of the total volume of water utilized approximately 21 million hectares (10.5% in irrigation districts, 88% comes from of the country’s territory), of which 6.5 surface sources, and is stored in dams or million are irrigated and 14.5 are rainfed. diverted from rivers, while the remain- Productivity in irrigated areas is, on ing 12% comes from groundwaters that average, 3.7 times greater than in rainfed are extracted from aquifers through deep ones; despite the fact that irrigated areas wells. account for a substantially smaller surface In terms of irrigation units, 57% of the area, irrigated farming generates more water they use is groundwater, whereas than half the country’s national agricul- 43% is surface water; both in the irriga- tural production. tion districts and irrigation units, water is Of these 6.5 million hectares under transported to the plots by an important irrigation, 3.5 million (54%) are in 85 Irri- infrastructure including different canals gation Districts (82 of which have already and also pipes. been transferred to users) and 3.0 million (46%) are in 39,492 Irrigation Units. As regards rainfed areas, 2.7 of the total of 14.5 million hectares are located in 22 Technified Rainfed Districts.

23 Comparison between the land surfaces of irrigation districts and technified rainfed districts

Technified rainfed 29%

Irrigated 71%

Irrigation Districts in Mexico

Total area No. Name Region State(s) (hectares)

001 Pabellón VIII Aguascalientes 11,938 002 Mante IX Tamaulipas 18,094 003 Tula XIII Hidalgo 51,825 004 Don Martín VI Coahuila de Zaragoza and Nuevo León 29,605 005 Delicias VI Chihuahua 82,324 006 Palestina VI Coahuila de Zaragoza 12,964 008 Metztitlán IX Hidalgo 4,876 009 Juárez Valley VI Chihuahua 24,492 010 Culiacán-Humaya III Sinaloa 212,141 011 Upper Lerma River VIII Guanajuato 112,772 013 State of Jalisco VIII Jalisco 58,858 014 Río Colorado I Baja California and Sonora 208,805 016 State of Morelos IV Morelos 33,654 017 Región Lagunera VII Coahuila de Zaragoza and Durango 116,577 018 Colonias Yaquis II Sonora 22,794 019 Tehuantepec V Oaxaca 44,074 020 Morelia VIII Michoacán de Ocampo 20,665 023 San Juan del Río IX Querétaro de Arteaga 11,048 024 Chapala Swamp VIII Michoacán de Ocampo 45,176 025 Lower Río Bravo VI Tamaulipas 248,001

24 Total area No. Name Region State(s) (hectares)

026 Lower Río San Juan VI Tamaulipas 86,102 028 Tulancingo IX Hidalgo 753 029 Xicoténcatl IX Tamaulipas 24,021 030 Valsequillo IV Puebla 49,932 031 Las Lajas VI Nuevo León 3,693 033 State of México VIII México 18,080 034 State of Zacatecas VIII Zacatecas 18,060 035 La Antigüa X Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave 21,851 037 Altar Pitiquito Caborca II Sonora 57,587 038 Mayo River II Sonora 97,046 041 Yaqui River II Sonora 232,944 042 Buenaventura VI Chihuahua 7,718 043 State of Nayarit VIII Nayarit 47,253 044 Jilotepec IX México 5,507 045 Tuxpan IV Michoacán de Ocampo 19,376 046 Cacahoatán-Suchiate XI Chiapas 8,473 048 Ticul XII Yucatán 9,689 049 Río Verde IX San Luis Potosí 3,507 050 Acuña-Falcón VI Tamaulipas 12,904 051 Hermosillo Coast II Sonora 66,296 052 State of Durango III Durango 29,306 053 State of Colima VIII Colima 37,773 056 Atoyac-Zahuapan IV Tlaxcala 4,247 057 Amuco-Cutzamala IV Guerrero 34,515 059 Río Blanco XI Chiapas 8,432 060 El Higo (Pánuco) IX Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave 2,250 061 Zamora VIII Michoacán de Ocampo 17,982 063 Guasave III Sinaloa 100,125 066 Santo Domingo I Baja California Sur 38,101 Tepecoacuilco- 068 IV Guerrero 1,991 Quechultenango 073 La Concepción XIII México 964 074 Mocorito III Sinaloa 40,742 075 Río Fuerte III Sinaloa 227,518 076 Carrizo Valley III Sinaloa 51,681 082 Río Blanco X Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave 21,657 083 Papigochic II Chihuahua 8,947

25 Total area No. Name Region State(s) (hectares)

084 Guaymas II Sonora 16,667 085 La Begoña VIII Guanajuato 10,823 086 Soto La Marina River IX Tamaulipas 35,925

087 Rosario-Mezquite VIII Michoacán de Ocampo 63,144 088 Chiconautla XIII México 4,498 089 El Carmen VI Chihuahua 20,805 090 Lower Conchos River VI Chihuahua 13,313 092 Pánuco River, Las Ánimas IX Tamaulipas 44,483 092 Pánuco River, Chicayán IX Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave 54,882 092 Pánuco River, Pujal Coy I IX San Luis Potosí 41,382 093 Tomatlán VIII Jalisco 19,773 094 South Jalisco State VIII Jalisco 16,940 095 Atoyac V Guerrero 5,016 096 Arroyozarco IX México 18,866 097 Lázaro Cárdenas IV Michoacán de Ocampo 71,593 098 José Ma. Morelos IV Michoacán de Ocampo 5,083 099 Quitupan-Magdalena IV Michoacán de Ocampo 5,120 100 Alfajayucan XIII Hidalgo 39,211 101 Cuxtepeques XI Chiapas 8,267 102 Río Hondo XII Quintana Roo 27,182 103 Río Florido VI Chihuahua 8,964 104 Cuajinicuilapa (Ometepec) V Guerrero 6,720 105 Nexpa V Guerrero 14,549 107 San Gregorio XI Chiapas 11,227 108 Elota-Piaxtla III Sinaloa 27,104 109 San Lorenzo River III Sinaloa 69,399 110 Río Verde-Progreso V Oaxaca 5,030 111 Presidio River III Sinaloa 8,435 112 Ajacuba XIII Hidalgo 8,500 Labores Viejas Irrigation VI Chihuahua 3,712 Zone Fuerte-Mayo Irrigation Zone III Sinaloa 15,073

Fuerte-Mayo Irrigation Zone III Sonora 7,510

TOTAL 3’496,902

Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

26 Technified Rainfed Districts in Mexico

Total area No. Name Region State(s) (hectares)

001 La Sierra XI Tabasco 32,100 002 Zanapa Tonalá XI Tabasco 106,900 003 Tesechoacán X Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave 18,000 005 Pujal Coy II IX San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas 220,000 006 Acapetahua XI Chiapas 103,900 007 Central Veracruz State X Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave 75,000 008 Eastern Yucatán State XII Yucatán 667,000 009 El Bejuco III Nayarit 25,400 010 San Fernando IX Tamaulipas 505,000 011 Margaritas-Comitán XI Chiapas 48,000 012 La Chontalpa XI Tabasco 91,000 015 Edzná-Yohaltún XII Campeche 85,100 016 Sanes Huasteca XI Tabasco 26,400 017 Tapachula XI Chiapas 94,300 018 Huixtla XI Chiapas 107,600 020 Margaritas-Pijijiapan XI Chiapas 68,000 023 Rodríguez-Clara Island X Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave 13,700 024 Southern Yucatán State XII Yucatán 67,300 025 Río Verde XII Campeche 134,900 026 Ucum Valley XII Quintana Roo 104,800 027 Frailesca XI Chiapas 56,800 035 Los Naranjos X Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave 92,600

TOTAL 2’ 743,800

Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

It is important to note that 77% of the agricultural production to meet our water utilized in Mexico is for agriculture, growing food needs. that water availability is scarce in large To help solve this problem, the mod- areas of the country, and that water use ernization and technification of irrigation efficiencies in irrigation are, for the most will make it possible to increase water part, rather low. productivity by 2.8% a year, measured in This situation becomes even more kilograms per cubic meter of water used critical if we consider that our country’s in irrigation districts, which is projected to recent population growth calls for greater rise from 1.41 in 2006 to 1.66 in the year

27 By reducing the volumes of water used in irrigation as a result of modernization and technification, titles of concession should be adjusted based on water availability, since there are surface supply sources that have been granted in concession to an excessive degree or different aquifers that are seriously overexploited. Moreover, given the extreme scarcity of water in vast zones of the country, it is indispensable to foster reconversion towards crops that are more profitable and consume less water, considering water availability and soil suitability, to which end coordination between sowing and irrigation permits will be fundamen- 2012. This will lead to a greater benefit tal. Here we should comment that exclu- for producers, while at the same time it sive sowing permits [referring to specific will be possible to achieve more efficient crops and land areas] are granted by the water use by substantially reducing con- Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, sumption. Rural Development, Fishing, and Food, As we are able to ascertain the volumes while irrigation permits are given by of water that are actually withdrawn from the National Water Commission. In this supply sources and the volumes that are sense, there has been suitable coordina- consumed by users on their plots, we will tion between both institutions for achiev- be able to determine water savings and ing this aim. utilize that water saved for other use prior- As regards users’ organizations for ities in river basins, as well as to promote irrigation units, it will be necessary to the preservation of supply sources. continue to strengthen their organiza- In this regard, it will also be advisable tion and establishment as Societies with to introduce the concept of water as a Limited Responsibility so that they may productive input and that of measuring it obtain greater benefits from the existing in terms of its value added per volume; programs, for example, in the purchase of this will help define the uses that are machinery and equipment. most appropriate for this scarce resource, In addition, in order to guarantee optimizing its application and broadening better coordination among the govern- the vision towards industrial and service ment entities to attend to the problems activities such as tourism. faced by hydro-agricultural activities, it

28 will be necessary to improve the legal In Mexico, there are places with avail- framework regulating the exploitation, able water and which are suitable for distribution, and use of water in this agriculture, but which have yet to be sector. utilized to their full capacity. Thus, it is In the realm of technified rainfed dis- necessary to build infrastructure allowing tricts, efforts will continue in the areas of for an extension of the surface devoted infrastructure rehabilitation and technical to irrigated and technified rainfed agri- advice for producers, as well as the cre- culture in order to obtain greater benefit ation of a new framework of norms for from those land areas, doing so in a har- each of these that will allow for them to monious way with regard to forests and be consolidated and developed. natural resources. So as to avoid possible Referring to major infrastructure, in conflicts in the future among the different Mexico there are approximately 2,200 users of this infrastructure, from the time storage dams that supply water to irriga- it is built, regulations for using it and for tion districts and units, of which some distributing its waters will be established, 35% are more than 40 years old, while users will be incorporated into civil asso- their useful design life is 50 years. ciations, and they will be given training For this reason, a broad program for for operating and conserving the infra- rehabilitating and conserving these works structure that will be granted to them in and their structures will be carried out the form of concessions. in order both to provide security to the Following we present the strategies populations living downriver and to help and goals set for this objective. In view of guarantee the granting of the volumes their importance, we include a list of the required for drinking water, crop irriga- institutions and organizations having a tion, and electrical power generation. direct bearing on this objective, as well as Similarly, it will be necessary to maintain a description of the challenges to be met the permanent program for dam safety in order to reach the proposed goals. inspections.

29 OBJECTIVE 1:

To improve water productivity in the agricultural sector

STRATEGY 1: To modernize hydro-agricultural infrastructure and technify agricultural land in coordination with users and local officials. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Increase water productivity in 0.25 1.1.1 2.1 1.41 1.66 irrigation districts (kg/m3) (2.8% annual)

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

1.1.2 Hectares modernized 5,956,420 2,083,041 1,200,000 3,283,041

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Technified rainfed area 1.1.3 511,550 351,550 136,000 487,550 rehabilitated (hectares)

STRATEGY 2: To provide incentives for substituting first-use water with treated wastewater. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Area in irrigation districts 1.2.1 that use treated wastewater 5,000 0 5,000 5,000 (hectares)

STRATEGY 3: To ensure that the volumes of water granted in concession are in keeping with the sustainable availability of supply sources. Goal in the Universe or 2007-2012 Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 ideal goal period to the year 2012

Irrigation districts that have 1.3.1 7 0 7 7 modified titles of concession

30 STRATEGY 4: To maintain the dams managed by the National Water Commission in proper running condition.

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

1.4.1 Dams rehabilitated 750 199 300 499

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Reports of the National Dam 1.4.2 4,000 - - - 1,620 1,620 Safety Program

STRATEGY 5: To foster the development and consolidation of agricultural users’ organizations. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 1.5.1 Irrigation units organized 39,492 2,053 2,000 4,053 Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Irrigation districts that have a 1.5.2 83 62 21 83 guiding plan

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period New regulatory framework 1.5.3 for technified rainfed districts 22 0 22 22 (document)

STRATEGY 6: To promote crop reconversion according to water availability and to encourage recognition of water’s economic value in irrigation. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Irrigation districts in which exclusive sowing and irrigation 1.6.1 85 85 85 Does not apply permits are issued in a coordinated fashion

31 STRATEGY 7: To widen the agricultural frontier for irrigation and technified rainfed farming in zones with water availability through land-use planning. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

1.7.1 New hectares under irrigation 10 million 6.5 million 103,000 6.603 million

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period New hectares used for 1.7.2 7.5 million 2.743 million 60,000 2.803 million technified rainfed farming

Major challenges associated with the objective that should be met

• To achieve appropriate coordination of federal and state programs and funds in order to maximize expected benefits. • To increase producers’ economic participation according to the different programs’ operating rules in order to obtain expected benefits in shorter time periods. • To promote the economic participation of state and municipal governments for the execution of the works required. • To provide impetus to new financial schemes that make it possible to enhance the technical and financial efficiency of new projects in their execution. • To redimension irrigation zones based on water availability. • To promote crop reconversion towards others with a high economic return, based on water availability and soil suitability. • To strengthen agricultural users’ organizations. • To foster training in civil associations of users of hydro-agricultural infrastructure. • To see to it that state governments contribute towards the solution of the social and political problems that arise concerning hydro-agricultural matters. • To consider the operation and maintenance of hydro-agricultural infrastructure as a priority activity. • To consolidate the program for structural and functional safety of water infrastructure as of its conceptualization. • To promote commercialization mechanisms and channels that favor agricultural producers. • To build awareness among users of the importance of and benefits to be derived from efficient use of both water and infrastructure. • To have a solid project portfolio for the modernization, technification, and expansion of hydro- agricultural infrastructure.

32 Principal institutions and organizations that play a role in achieving the objective

National Water Commission: to under- istry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Devel- take actions for modernizing hydro-agri- opment, Fishing, and Food. cultural infrastructure and/or technifying Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural irrigation districts and units and also Development, Fishing, and Food: to technified rainfed districts, as well as to coordinate its actions with the National construct new irrigation and technified Water Commission so that sowing plans rainfed infrastructure in coordination with are in agreement with irrigation plans; to agricultural users and state and municipal promote the necessary actions, includ- governments; to operate and conserve ing technification, to achieve more effi- dams and the major infrastructure it is cient water use in agriculture and to responsible for which is used to supply increase productivity; to support the water to farmers; to coordinate its actions development of rainfed zones and new with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, projects; to aid farmers through studies Rural Development, Fishing, and Food for on the marketing and commercializa- the purpose of harmonizing programs tion of their products; to offer technical and financial resources in the different and administrative advice to agricultural river basins; to promote the development users; to provide impetus to agricultural and consolidation of users’ associations production based on the country’s food in irrigation and technified rainfed zones; to provide technical and administrative advice to agricultural users. Agricultural Users: to participate in a financial sense in the programs coordinated by the different entities according to what is established in the respective Rules of Operation; to run, conserve, manage, and maintain in good operating condition the hydro-agricultural infrastructure that has been granted to them in concession; to make efficient use of water and to increase the productivity of their plots; to utilize only the volumes of water granted in concession according to the titles that have been issued and to respect the exclusive sowing permits that are established jointly by the National Water Commission and the Min-

33 34 requirements, soil suitability, and water the corresponding timetable, helping to availability. foster expeditious and timely expenditure Governments of the States: to provide of the funds granted; and, when appro- financial support for the modernization priate, to authorize multi-annual invest- and technification of irrigated and techni- ment programs. fied rainfed areas, as well as for the new National Congress: to agree upon the projects that are constructed; to attend policies and budgets required for the to the social and political problems that water sector, as well as to evaluate and, arise in the new projects to be carried when appropriate, approve, requests for out, as well as in the areas that are cur- modifications of the Law on National rently in operation. Waters and its Regulations. Universities and Other Educational Ministry of the Environment and Natural Institutions: to provide technical and Resources: to supervise the implementa- administrative training for agricultural tion of actions geared towards protecting users and also public and private institu- natural resources that are necessary in tions and organizations that participate in areas where major infrastructure for agri- the agricultural sector in order to increase cultural development is to be built. agricultural production and enhance Federal Electricity Commission: to coor- efficient water use; to conduct research dinate its actions with the National Water and development for new irrigation and Commission to make more efficient use drainage technologies and to disseminate of water by harmonizing the generation them so they can be put into practice. of hydroelectric power in dams with irri- River Basin Councils and Technical gation plans. Groundwater Committees: to promote actions that allow for the efficient use of water in agriculture, in harmony with the other uses of the river basin and basing this on the preservation of aquifers, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Drinking Water and Sanitation Utilities: to treat the wastewater they produce and to encourage its reuse, considering the agricultural sector as a potential user, which would make it possible, for example, to replace first-use water with treated wastewater. Ministry of Finance and Public Credit: to determine the budget allocated to the institutions linked to the water sector and

35 36 OBJECTIVE 2. To increase access to and quality of drinking water, sewerage, and sanitation services

Article 115 of the Mexican Constitution laration of water reserves when this is states that the provision of drinking water, deemed appropriate for ensuring water sewerage, and sanitation services is the supplies for major urban centers. responsibility of municipalities, which In this regard, it is also necessary that normally delegate these functions to a they intensify actions geared to enhanc- public institution or private firm which ing physical efficiency in water distribu- is known as a water utility, although we tion, since there are still serious losses must note that the great majority of the due to leaks in supply networks, ranging country’s water utilities are public. from 30% to 50%. An issue of concern is related to the We should bear in mind that the water disorderly growth of some cities, whose which is wasted in both supply networks needs cannot be met by the sources of and homes is extremely expensive, since water supply currently available. For that it has to be withdrawn from supply reason, it is indispensable for munici- sources, purified, stored, and transported palities to have land-use plans based on by complex, costly infrastructure in order water availability and to guarantee com- to be able to bring it to industries, busi- pliance with those plans. nesses, and homes. Those plans should regulate the sus- Similarly, it is essential for the water tainable growth of real estate projects utilities to implement adequate systems and consider, when necessary, the dec- for measuring water use and billing and

37 collecting fees for it that will allow them to cover the cost that corresponds to to enhance their financial efficiency for them and that this be similar to the real covering their operating and mainte- cost, including the renewal of said infra- nance costs, as well as to generate the structure. necessary funds for renewing water infra- Moreover, while it is important to structure, which in many cities is old and provide the quantity of water required obsolete. by Mexico’s inhabitants, it is equally The fact that both physical and finan- important that the water supplied be of cial efficiency are low leads to a situa- a quality suitable for human consumption in which overall efficiency is below tion, i.e., free of toxic substances and what is desirable (overall efficiency is the microorganisms that could cause health product of multiplying the two above- problems. mentioned efficiencies). To this end, it will be necessary to Evolution of national drinking water implement financial programs and and sewerage coverages instruments such as PROMAGUA, which will allow us to create different mixes National drinking National sewerage of public and private resources to favor Year water coverage coverage the development and self-sufficiency of (%) (%) water utilities and provide better ser- 1990 78.4 61.5 vices to the population. In addition, we should apply the legal 1995 84.6 72.4 and economic instruments that encour- 2000 87.8 76.2 age the states and municipalities to grant 2005 89.2 85.6 the highest priority to supplying drinking water and sewerage services to all their 2006 89.6 86.0 inhabitants, as well as to treating waste- Note: Data is to December of each year. water, including actions associated with Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission. collection of fees for those services. Parallelly, it will be necessary for them A key factor for the success of these to promote the proper use and payment water utilities will be ensuring that they of water through permanent media cam- have sufficient technical resources to paigns. conduct their important work and that Similarly, in order to guarantee the they develop permanent training pro- proper functioning of the hydraulic infra- grams for their staff. structure operated by the National Water In addition, continuity in their opera- Commission for bulk water supply, it is tions is essential, to which end they will indispensable for the states and munici- need to implement professional career palities benefited by that infrastructure service and prepare their master plans for

38 drinking water, sewerage, and sanitation, and channel the resources now managed by pledging to carry them out appropriately. different federal entities involved in this area, In terms of coverage, 89.6% of the ensuring that infrastructure is operated and country’s population has drinking water maintained by the inhabitants themselves. service, while 86% has sewerage service. While these percentages are considered to be reasonable, they should be increased, mainly in rural areas, where the greatest lags are to be found: there, coverages were 72.0% for drinking water and 58.6% for sewerage in 2006. This situation is most difficult if we take into account that in Mexico, there are approximately 185,000 rural localities, the majority of which are highly scattered. So that the actions taken in rural areas are truly effective, it has been proposed that the National Water Commission coordinate

Drinking water coverage in the world

Under 50% 51%-60% 61%-70% 71%-80% 81%-90% Over 90% No data

Source: WHO. UNICEF. Meeting the MDG Drinking Water and Sanitation Target: The Urban and Rural Challenge of the Decade. WHO Press. Switzerland, 2006. For the case of Mexico, Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

39 Drinking water coverage Sewerage coverage (the complete list includes 184 countries) (the complete list includes 172 countries) Drinking Sewerage water No. Country coverage No. Country coverage (%) (%) 1 Andorra 100 1 Andorra 100 2 Aruba 100 2 Australia 100 3 Australia 100 3 Austria 100 4 Austria 100 4 Barbados 100 5 Barbados 100 5 Canada 100 6 Belorusia 100 6 Cook Islands 100 7 Canada 100 7 Croatia 100 8 Croatia 100 8 Cyprus 100 9 Cyprus 100 9 Finland 100 10 Denmark 100 10 Germany 100 11 Estonia 100 11 Iceland 100 12 Finland 100 12 Japan 100 13 France 100 13 Monaco 100 14 Germany 100 14 Montserrat 100 15 Slovakia 100 15 Netherlands 100 16 Spain 100 16 Qatar 100 17 United Arab Emirates 100 17 Spain 100 18 United States of America 100 18 United States of America 100 62 Turkey 96 62 Turkey 88 88 Brazil 90 67 Mexico 86 90 Mexico 89.6 68 South Africa 86 91 South Africa 89 85 Brazil 75

NOTE: There are 45 countries with 100% drinking water coverage and NOTE: There are 26 countries with 100% sewerage coverage and in in this table, the first 18 of these are presented in alphabetical order. this table, the first 18 of these are presented in alphabetical order.

Source: WHO. UNICEF. Meeting the MDG Drinking Water and Source: WHO. UNICEF. Meeting the MDG Drinking Water and Sanitation Target: The Urban and Rural Challenge of the Decade. WHO Sanitation Target: The Urban and Rural Challenge of the Decade. WHO Press. Switzerland, 2006. For the case of Mexico, Statistics on Water in Press. Switzerland, 2006. For the case of Mexico, Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission. Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

40 Sewerage coverage in the world

Under 50% 51%-60% 61%-70% 71%-80% 81%-90% Over 90% No data

As regards sanitation, although impor- In this regard, to cover wastewater tant progress has been made in recent treatment plants’ operating, maintenance, years, during which the percentage of and renovation costs, it is fundamental wastewater treated rose from 23% to that those responsible for providing this 36.1%, it is necessary to step up efforts service set appropriate rates and collec- to increase that figure substantially. That tion systems. will make it possible to substitute first- use water for treated wastewater, as well Municipal wastewater (m3/s) as to recover the quality of Mexico’s rivers Produced 242 and lakes and increase aquifer recharge. Collected in Let us recall that wastewater treatment 206 sewerage networks is essential for ensuring the water cycle, i.e., the cycle of life. Therefore, munici- 74.4 (36.1% of the Treated palities and industries must comply flow collected in with the norms and standards that have sewerage networks) been set in our country concerning dis- Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission. charges that are emptied into national water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

41 It is necessary to insist on the need for Following we present the strate- ensuring reuse of the waters produced, gies and goals set for the objective “To which can help cover part of the operat- increase access to and quality of drinking ing costs of water utilities, for example, water, sewerage, and sanitation services,” by selling water to industry. Along these as well as the challenges to be met and lines, rates for treated wastewater must a list of the institutions and organizations be adequate and, at the same time, lower having a direct bearing on this objective. than those for drinking water. Another feasible scheme consists of substituting the first-use water utilized in agriculture for treated wastewater; this way, farmers would make the former available to guarantee the growth of our cities. Moreover, a special effort will have to be made to reactivate those plants that are no longer operating or that are operating at low efficiency rates in order to take full advantage of their installed capacity.

42 OBJECTIVE 2:

To increase access to and quality of drinking water, sewerage, and sanitation services

STRATEGY 1: To strengthen the technical development and financial self-sufficiency of the country’s water utilities through the application of programs and actions that promote an enhancement of their overall efficiency and ensure better service provision. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

To increase the overall average 8.0 efficiency of 80 water utilities additional 2.1.1 63 36.2 44.2 in localities with more than percentage 20,000 inhabitants (%) points

STRATEGY 2: To treat the wastewater produced and to encourage its reuse and substitution. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 23.9 Treatment of wastewater additional 2.2.1 100 36.1 60 collected (%) percentage points

STRATEGY 3: To increase the coverage of drinking water and sewerage services in the country, promoting service sustainability. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 5.4 additional 2.3.1 Drinking water coverage (%) 100 89.6 95.0 percentage points Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 2 additional 2.3.2 Sewerage coverage (%) 100 86 88 percentage points

43 STRATEGY 4: To increase drinking water and sewerage coverage in rural areas, promoting service sustainability. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 8.4 Drinking water coverage in rural additional 2.4.1 areas 100 72 80.4 percentage (%) points Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 4.4 Sewerage coverage in rural additional 2.4.2 areas 100 58.6 63.0 percentage (%) points

STRATEGY 5: To increase drinking water and sewerage services in urban communities, promoting service sustainability. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 4.5 Drinking water coverage in additional 2.5.1 urban areas 100 95 99.5 percentage (%) points Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 1.2 Sewerage coverage in urban additional 2.5.2 areas 100 94.4 95.6 percentage (%) points

STRATEGY 6: To improve the quality of water supplied to the population.

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 2.0 Volume of water disinfected additional 2.6.1 100 96.0 98.0 (%) percentage points

44 Major challenges associated with the objective that should be met

• To orient the growth of cities based on water availability, a reduction of the demand, and proper management of supply. • To see to it that the provision of drinking water, sewerage, and wastewater treatment services is a priority on municipal and state agendas. • To guarantee continuity of operation of the country’s water and sanitation utilities and to profes- sionalize their middle-level positions. • To ensure that municipalities formulate master plans for drinking water, sewerage, and sanitation, and that they make a commitment to execute them. • To see to it that municipalities use the water they extract and also the infrastructure at their disposal in an efficient way. • To build an awareness among Mexico’s inhabitants regarding the importance of using water responsibly and paying a fair price for it. • To set up adequate systems for measuring water use and billing and collecting fees for it from inhabitants. • To consolidate the reuse of treated wastewater in the country, as well as its substitution for first- use water in those activities for which this is a feasible option. • To have a sufficient project portfolio in the areas of infrastructure renovation and expansion. • To ensure that municipalities and industries comply with the norms and standards established for wastewater treatment. • To implement technologies that are appropriate for the local setting in the provision of drinking water and sanitation services, mainly in rural areas. • To strengthen social participation in infrastructure operation and maintenance in rural areas. • To develop and implement financial mechanisms and instruments that make it possible to increase access to and quality of drinking water, sewerage, and sanitation services.

45 Principal institutions and organizations that play a role in achieving the objective

National Water Commission: to and promote its reuse; to comply with promote actions geared to increasing their fiscal obligations as users of national water use efficiency in cities; to promote waters; to link their development and the establishment of adequate schemes land-use plans with water availability. for measuring water use and billing and Public Works and Development collecting fees for it; to support the exten- Banks: to create the financial instruments sion of drinking water, sewerage, and and mechanisms making it possible to wastewater treatment coverages and an supply the funds required by munici- increase in the rate of reuse; to provide palities and water utilities to be able to technical and administrative advice to provide drinking water, sewerage, and drinking water and sanitation utilities; to wastewater treatment services, with the encourage the participation of the private fundamental consideration of preserving sector in those projects in which this our rivers, lakes, wetlands, and aquifers. option is feasible; to adjust the legal and Private Sector: to contribute the nec- normative framework in order to ensure essary technology and funding to con- water supply for rural populations. struct, operate, and maintain the major Governments of the States: to con- works required by the water sector. tribute funds that allow for the execu- Universities and Other Educational tion of the works and actions needed to Institutions: to offer technical and admin- provide adequate drinking water, sewer- istrative training to the staff of drinking age, and wastewater treatment services to water and sanitation utilities, as well as the population located in both cities and to the firms that participate in the provi- rural areas; to promote the establishment sion of these services. of rates that favor the responsible use and National Congress: to agree upon fair payment of water; to foster efficient the policies and budgets required for the water use in productive activities. water sector, as well as to evaluate and, Municipalities and Drinking Water when appropriate, approve, requests for and Sanitation Utilities: to provide modifications of the Law on National drinking water and sewerage services as Waters and its Regulations. needed by the population; to carry out Local Congresses: to approve the actions that make it possible to guarantee implementation of rates and systems that the water supplied to the population for measuring water use and collecting is fit for human consumption; to ensure fees for it that favor the responsible use that maximum utilization is made of the of water and just payment; to coordinate water obtained from supply sources; to the policies and budgets needed for the treat the wastewater produced in cities water sector; to coordinate water proj-

46 ects of local interest; and to establish Ministry of Health: to support the laws and regulations that favor efficient municipalities so that their inhabitants water use and the conservation of rivers, receive water fit for human consumption; lakes, wetlands, and aquifers in accor- to foster among the inhabitants habits dance with national laws, norms, and and customs associated with hygiene standards. that enable them to improve their quality Research and Development Insti- of life. tutes: to evaluate and propose technolo- Civil Society Organizations: to par- gies contributing towards efficient water ticipate in the provision of drinking water use and to the provision of adequate and sewerage services, mainly in rural drinking water and sewerage services communities. for the population both in cities and in Ministry of Social Development: to rural communities; to propose waste- support municipalities so that rural com- water treatment processes that are the munities may have water and sanita- most appropriate ones at the local level, tion systems, and to coordinate actions considering reuse. involving urban restructuring, taking into Ministry of Foreign Affairs: to account water availability as a fundamen- promote, in coordination with the tal factor. respective agencies and institutions of National Commission for the Devel- the United States of America, programs opment of Indigenous Peoples: to for improving efficiencies and widening support those municipalities that have a drinking water, sewerage, and waste- large indigenous population so that these water treatment coverages in Mexican communities have appropriate drinking cities in the U.S.-Mexico border zone. water and sanitation systems. Ministry of Finance and Public Credit: to determine the budget allocated to the institutions linked to the water sector and the corresponding timetable, helping to foster expeditious and timely expenditure of the funds granted; and, when appropriate, to authorize multi- annual investment programs. Industrial Sector: to treat the wastewater produced by industry and to favor its reuse in the different productive activities in which this is a feasible option, considering agriculture, irrigation of green areas, and the processes of cooling and cleaning.

OBJECTIVE 3. To promote integrated, sustainable water management in river basins and aquifers

In Mexico, water is considered to be a associated with the occurrence of severe strategic element essential for national meteorological and hydrometeorological security. Given the fact that it is scarce, phenomena be minimal. our social well-being, economic devel- In our country, planning is carried out opment, and conservation of the envi- at different levels. At the national level, ronment depend to a large extent on its major policies and strategies associated proper management and utilization. with water management and conserva- In view of this consideration, the plan- tion are proposed; at the regional level, ning process carried out for our country’s implementation is defined in more detail, water sector plays a key role in that it is considering the characteristics of each the point of departure for the policies, particular zone of the country; and at strategies, and actions undertaken. the local level, policies and strategies are The following is specifically proposed: applied so as to have a favorable impact that users have the water they need and on social well-being, economic devel- that they utilize it efficiently; that the coun- opment, and environmental conserva- try’s rivers, lakes, and lagoons recover tion. This process is enriched thanks to their volumes of water and that the water the results obtained by the users them- be of good quality; that aquifers be in selves, thus providing systematic feed- equilibrium and that the quality of their back for regional and national policies water be adequate; and that the damages and strategies.

49 In order to ensure the continuity of The greatest problems occurring in this actions agreed upon jointly by users and regard are found in 17 coastal aquifers in officials, as well as to maximize invest- the States of Baja California, Baja Califor- ments pertaining to various schemes, it nia Sur, Colima, Sonora, and Veracruz. is indispensable that the water programs The importance of aquifers can be drawn up for the different river basins be appreciated by the following consider- defined by law as mandatory. ations: To support the water planning process, • They are the only reliable sources for our country needs to have land-use plans water provision in the country’s arid that take into account water availability and semi-arid regions. as a key element in its development, and • They provide the water needed by this will lead to several benefits, includ- practically the entire rural population ing helping to preserve the water supply of Mexico and, in a broader sense, sources currently available. 70% of the country’s population, A situation requiring great care has as well as the majority of industrial to do with the preservation of ground- developments. waters. Of the 653 aquifers in Mexico, 104 • They support the irrigation of two are overexploited and from these, 60% of million hectares, virtually one third the groundwater used in the country is of the total area under irrigation. extracted. At present, close to 28,000 hm3/year are withdrawn from underground sources, No. of overexploited of which 71% is for agricultural use and Year aquifers 20% for public-urban use. In the past 40 1975 32 years, due to overexploitation, our strategic groundwater reserve has lost on the 1985 80 order of 60,000 hm3 and continues to 2006 104 diminish at a rate of 5,400 hm3/year. Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Groundwater quality is turning into a Water Commission. limiting factor for availability. There are The early decades of overexploitation polluted aquifers underlying agricultural (1960-1980) led to a serious ecological and urban-industrial zones, while rural impact, generating depletion of springs, zones have caused the biological pollu- the disappearance of lakes and wetlands, tion of groundwater. a reduction of the basic flow rate of rivers, Similarly, some aquifers involve public the elimination of native vegetation and health problems because they contain loss of ecosystems, and also the settling chemical elements such as arsenic, fluorine, and cracking of the land, groundwater iron, and manganese derived from rocks pollution, and saline intrusion in coastal and dissolved in the water in concentra- aquifers. tions above those defined as permissible.

50 In the face of this scenario, it is neces- As regards surface waters, we should sary to promote geohydrological explora- note that the country’s rivers and lakes are tion in search of new sources; observation also most essential for supplying water to of the behavior of water levels in aquifers, cities, industry, agriculture, and electrical as part of integrated monitoring of the power generation. water cycle; measurement of withdrawals Of Mexico’s 39 most important rivers and natural discharges of aquifers; moni- (87% from runoff): 22 empty into the toring of their natural quality and their Pacific, 14 into the Gulf of Mexico, and 3 deterioration caused by anthropogenic are inland rivers. activities; and assessment of aquifers’ Seven rivers are responsible for 65% of features, renewal, and water availability. the country’s surface runoff: Balsas, San- Moreover, so as to increase water avail- tiago, Grijalva-Usumacinta, Papaloapan, ability, it is necessary to develop projects Coatzacoalcos, Pánuco, and Tonalá. for artificial aquifer recharge, evapotranspiration management, collection and desalination of brackish or salt water in coastal zones or closed river basins, and the combined use of surface waters and groundwaters, among others. These actions should be framed within management plans following an inter- institutional approach and with the establishment of the corresponding ordinances (prohibitions, regulations, and reserves) agreed upon with organized water users and as part of integrated water management.

51 Rivers that empty into the Pacific Ocean

Mean natural Hydrological-administrative Area of basin Length of river No. River surface runoffa region (km2) (km) (hm3/year)

1 Balsas Balsas 16,587 117,406 770 2 Santiago Lerma-Santiago-Pacific 7,849 76,416 562 3 Verde Southern Pacific 5,937 18,812 342 4 Ometepec Southern Pacific 5,779 6,922 115 5 El Fuerte Northern Pacific 5,176 33,590 540 6 Papagayo Southern Pacific 4,237 7,410 140 7 Yaqui Northwest 3,163 72,540 410 8 San Pedrop Northern Pacific 3,528 26,480 255 9 Culiacán Northern Pacific 3,161 15,731 875 10 Suchiateb Southern Border 2,737 203 75 11 Amecap Lerma-Santiago-Pacific 2,165 12,214 205 12 Armeríap Lerma-Santiago-Pacific 2,015 9,795 240 13 San Lorenzo Northern Pacific 1,680 8,919 315 14 Coahuayanap Lerma-Santiago-Pacific 1,867 7,114 203 15 Coloradob Baja California Peninsula 1,863 3,840 160 16 Sinaloa Northern Pacific 2,126 12,260 400 17 Baluarte Northern Pacific 1,838 5,094 142 18 Acaponeta Northern Pacific 1,438 5,092 233 19 Piaxtla Northern Pacific 1,415 11,473 220 20 Tehuantepec Southern Pacific 950 10,090 240 21 Coatánb Southern Border 751 605 75 22 Huicicila Lerma-Santiago-Pacific 410 1,194 50 Total 76,671 463,200 6,567 a: Data on mean natural surface runoff represents the mean annual figure in all records existing for it. b: Mean natural surface runoff includes imports from other countries. The area of the basin and its length refer only to the portion in Mexico. p: Preliminary data Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

52 Rivers that empty into the Gulf of Mexico

Mean natural Hydrological-administrative Area of basin Length of river No. River surface runoffa region (km2) (km) (hm3/year)

23 Grijalva-Usumacintab Southern Border 115,536 83,553 1,521 24 Papaloapan Central Gulf 44,662 46,517 354 25 Coatzacoalcos Central Gulf 32,752 17,369 325 26 Pánuco Northern Gulf 20,330 84,956 510 27 Tonalá Central Gulf 11,389 5,679 82 28 Bravoc Río Bravo 5,588 226,280 2,018 29 Tecolutla Central Gulf 6,885 7,903 375 30 Nautla Central Gulf 2,284 2,785 124 31 Antigua Central Gulf 2,193 2,827 139 32 Tuxpan Central Gulf 2,580 5 899 150 33 Soto La Marina Northern Gulf 2,086 21,183 416 34 Candelariab Yucatán Peninsula 2,011 13,790 150 35 Cazones Central Gulf 1,716 2,688 145 36 San Fernando Northern Gulf 1,545 17,744 400 Total 251,557 539,173 6,709 a: Data on mean natural surface runoff represents the mean annual figure in all records existing for it. b: Mean natural surface runoff includes imports from other countries. The area of the basin and its length refer only to the portion in Mexico. c: Length of border between Mexico and the United States. Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

Inland rivers

Mean natural Hydrological-administrative Area of basin Length of river No. River surface runoffa region (km2) (km) (hm3/year)

37 Lermab Lerma-Santiago-Pacific 4,908 47,116 708 38 Nazas Central Basins of the North 1,999 57,101 600 39 Aguanaval Central Basins of the North 509 32,138 481 Total 7,416 136,355 1,789 a: Data on mean natural surface runoff represents the mean annual figure in all records existing for it. b: This river is considered as being inland because it empties into Lake Chapala. Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

One aspect that will require intense basins until the waters are discharged efforts is the measurement of volumes as wastewater by users, considering, of over the entire cycle, from the time of course, the volumes withdrawn from precipitation as rain in the different river rivers and lakes.

53 San Juan del Río (States of México, Querétaro, and Hidalgo), Coatzacoalcos (Veracruz, lower portion), Tula (States of México and Hidalgo), Pesquería (Nuevo León), Tijuana (Baja California), Blanco (Veracruz), La Laja (Guanajuato), Turbio (Guanajuato), Grande de Morelia (Micho- acán), Cuautla (Morelos), Santiago (Jalisco, upper portion), and Apatlaco (Morelos). As has been mentioned previously, compliance with Official Mexican Stan- dards with respect to discharges by municipalities and industries is fundamental for preserving the quality of our water bodies. As in the case of groundwaters, it will In addition, in certain cases it will be be necessary to determine precisely the necessary to conduct classification studies quantity of water employed by users, of national water bodies that are deemed placing special emphasis on agriculture, a priority. In such studies, stricter param- due to the significant volumes of water eters for compliance will be defined in it utilizes. order to ensure the quality of water for Similarly, it is essential to reinforce the different uses in the river basin. system for measuring water quality, espe- It is also important to point out that cially in the country’s major rivers and to preserve the country’s aquifers and lakes. rivers, we will need to establish regula- On this point, we should comment tions on the use and distribution of their that 36% of Mexico’s rivers, lakes, and waters based on availability and consid- reservoirs exhibit different degrees of ering as basic assumptions a ranking of pollution, and the main contaminants uses, the efficient utilization of the water are: organic matter, nutrients (nitrogen withdrawn, the gradual reduction of and phosphorus), and pathogenic micro- withdrawals, the progressive increase of organisms, although there are others that aquifer recharges, and the need to main- occur less frequently, such as metals and tain the minimum flow rates for rivers organic compounds. in order to ensure the survival of each The river basins or sub-river basins region’s flora and fauna. with water bodies exhibiting the highest Knowledge of the volumes utilized degree of pollution are: Atoyac (Tlaxcala by users, along with the availability of and Puebla), Lerma (States of México, surface waters and groundwaters, should Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Jalisco), constitute the basis for the establishment,

54 revision, and modification of regulations, The waters of the Tijuana and Colorado prohibitions, and reserves of national rivers and the Rio Bravo are distributed in waters. That will help make this resource accordance with the stipulations included more sustainable. in the Water Treaty on the Utilization of We must bear in mind that, in general, the Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana there is a significant degree of inter- Rivers and the Rio Grande [Bravo] signed dependence between surface water and between Mexico and the United States groundwater, and thus the actions to be of America in Washington on February 3, taken should consider this situation and, 1944. therefore, cannot be viewed in an iso- In this sense, it is important to lated fashion. strengthen cooperation schemes for sus- The challenge of sustainable water use tainable water management in the river calls for seeking out alternatives that are in keeping with the changes brought on by water scarcity. One of these alternatives is the development of new economic and normative mechanisms making it possible to increase efficiency in the allocation and reallocation of this resource. Water banks are instruments that will help regulate the water rights market in Mexico, contributing to the efficient use of this resource and reversing its overexploitation. These banks will adminis- ter regulated operations involving the transmission of rights, and this will avoid hoarding of water and the undue generation of revenues. The installation and operation of water banks will make it possible to have modern administration of water suited to the dynamic conditions prevailing in the water rights market. With regard to transboundary river basins, Mexico shares three river basins with the United States of America (Bravo, Colorado, and Tijuana), four with Gua- temala (Grijalva-Usumacinta, Suchiate, Coatán, and Candelaria), and one with Belize and Guatemala (Río Hondo).

55 basins our country shares with others, i.e., In this context, it is indispensable to the United States, Guatemala, and Belize. take advantage of the international agree- The main themes for cooperation ments we have signed, and also to create geared towards sustainable water man- additional instruments as needed. agement in shared river basins are as As for wetlands, it will be necessary follows: to work towards conserving them, since • Greater exchange of information so they are unique bodies of water in terms as to have more precise knowledge of their biological wealth. In addition, and about the river basins. among other aspects, they favor diverse • Design and implementation of productive and recreational activities complementary water distribution such as fishing and tourism, and allow schemes, including water scarcity or for mitigation of possible effects related drought scenarios. to torrential rains that occur in different • Attention to problems involving zones of the country. water quality and the environment. Following we present the strategies • Strategies and actions for flood and and goals set for this objective. In view siltation control, as well as river con- of its importance, we include a list of the servation. institutions and organizations having a • Joint schemes for preventing and direct bearing on this objective, as well as mitigating possible damages associ- a description of the challenges to be met ated with the occurrence of extreme in order to reach the proposed goals. hydrometeorological events.

56 OBJECTIVE 3:

To promote integrated, sustainable water management in river basins and aquifers

STRATEGY 1: To foster the equilibrium of river basins and overexploited aquifers. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Plans for managing overexploited aquifers that 3.1.1 have been implemented with 104 0 18 18 the participation of users and authorities

STRATEGY 2: To strengthen water quality in Integrated Water Resources Management. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012

Design and implementation of the National System for Water 3.2.1 1 0 1 1 Quality Indicators in the 13 River Basin Agencies

Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Design and implementation of the National System for 3.2.2 1 0 1 1 Identifying Water Bodies Requiring Priority Attention Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012

Water quality monitoring sites in 3.2.3 5,000 400 4,600 5,000 the 13 River Basin Agencies

Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012

3.2.4 Water quality studies 25 6 19 25

Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Technical reports on water 3.2.5 7,800 1,300 6,500 7,800 quality

57 STRATEGY 3: To develop incentives and economic instruments that promote the preservation of the country’s rivers, lakes, wetlands, river basins, aquifers, and coasts. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Value not 3.3.1 Water banks in operation 0 2 2 determined

STRATEGY 4: To consolidate an integrated system for measuring the different components of the water cycle. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 To maintain conventional and 3,700 3.4.1 automatic hydroclimatological 3,700 3,700 Does not apply every year stations currently operating Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Accredited water quality 3.4.2 laboratories in River Basin 13 8 5 13 Agencies Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Piezometric networks in 3.4.3 653 220 150 370 operation Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 3.4.4 Wells equipped with meters 800 150 100 250

STRATEGY 5: To set standards for and promote aquifer recharge.

Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Official Mexican Standards for artificial recharge and disposal 3.5.1 2 0 2 2 of waters to the soil and subsoil published and being enforced Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Projects for artificial aquifer Value not 3.5.2 0 6 6 recharge implemented determined

58 STRATEGY 6: To publish information on water availability in the country’s aquifers and river basins. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Aquifers whose availability has 3.6.1 653 202 451 653 been published Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 River basins whose availability 3.6.2 of surface water has been 718 91 627 718 published

STRATEGY 7: To foster actions geared to reducing water demand. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Implementation of the cooperation agreement between the National Water Commission and the World Meteorological Organization 3.7.1 1 0 1 1 (WMO) for integrated water management through the Project for Strengthening Integrated Water Management in Mexico (PREMIA)

STRATEGY 8: To regulate water use in the country’s major river basins and aquifers. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Regulations for water use in priority river basins that Value not 3.8.1 0 4 4 have been published and determined implemented Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Drafts of regulations for water 3.8.2 use in priority aquifers that have 104 0 10 10 been prepared and published Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Drafts for groundwater Value not 3.8.3 prohibitions that have been 145 18 163 determined prepared and published

59 Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Declarations of groundwater Value not 3.8.4 reserves that have been 0 4 4 determined published Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Declarations of surface water Value not 3.8.5 reserves that have been 0 6 6 determined published Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Drafts for the elimination of prohibitions of withdrawals of Value not 3.8.6 0 3 3 surface waters that have been determined prepared and published

STRATEGY 9: To prepare and publish classification studies of national water bodies requiring priority attention. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Declarations on the classification of national water bodies Value not 3.9.1 requiring priority attention 1 7 8 determined that have been prepared and published

STRATEGY 10: To assign a key role to water and to land-use planning in the country’s development. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 State development plans in 3.10.1 which water has been assigned 32 0 12 12 a key role

STRATEGY 11: To enhance the efficiency of the operation and management of the country’s dam systems. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 12 Policies on dam operation for 3.11.1 12 12 (maintain the 12 each River Basin Agency value achieved)

60 Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Updating of topobathymetric Value not 3.11.2 - - - 76 76 data on dams determined

STRATEGY 12: To strengthen cooperation schemes that make it possible to achieve sustainable water management in transboundary river basins in accordance with their regulations. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 To attend to binational matters relating to water in Value not 3.12.1 transboundary river basins, in 100 100 Does not apply determined accordance with international agreements (%)

STRATEGY 13: To promote the preparation of the National Inventory of Wetlands. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Design and preparation of the 3.13.1 National Inventory of Priority 1 0 1 1 Wetlands

STRATEGY 14: To institutionalize planning, scheduling, and budgeting processes, and the mandatory application of water programs in priority river basins. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Conceptualization and 3.14.1 implementation of flagship 32 0 32 32 projects associated with water Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012

Water Programs for each River 3.14.2 13 0 13 13 Basin Agency implemented

STRATEGY 15: To foster the preservation of the country’s ecosystems, striving to maintain in our rivers the volumes of water that are required. Goal in the Cumulative goal Universe or Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 to the year ideal goal period 2012 Standard on the ecological flow 3.15.1 1 0 1 1 published

61 Major challenges associated with the objective that should be met

• To ensure that water is a key element in the drafting and implementation of programs concerned with land-use planning. • To see to it that the water program for each River Basin Agency is the result of a process involving consultation with stakeholders in the river basin. • To make the execution of the water program for each River Basin Agency mandatory by law. • To improve the system for measuring and monitoring the components of the water cycle. • To establish an integrated system for measuring water use and utilization. • To enhance efficient water use in all productive activities. • To preserve water quality in the country’s rivers, lakes, dams, coastal zones, wetlands, and aquifers. • To develop and strengthen the concept of water as a common asset in the country’s different river basins. • To have a legal and normative framework that is suited to the national context. • To verify compliance with standards in effect in the water sector. • To determine and permanently update information on water availability in the country’s river basins and aquifers. • To provide impetus to the compilation and dissemination of knowledge about Mexico’s water resources. • To see to it that the users of national waters are familiar with data on availability in the different river basins and aquifers so that they may participate in actions related to their equilibrium and preservation. • To consolidate the network for measuring the water cycle in decision-making for actions involving sanitation, inspection, and supervision, as well as the restoration of water bodies and a proper assessment of environmental services.

Principal institutions and organizations that play a role in achieving the objective

National Water Commission: to coor- by users for the purpose of having precise dinate integrated water management by knowledge on the status of this resource in river basin and aquifer in such a way as the different river basins and aquifers and to favor social well-being, economic devel- make public the associated availabilities; to opment, and conservation of the environ- coordinate the design and implementation ment, while also seeing to it that water of technical standards for water manage- is preserved for present and future gen- ment; to maintain Mexico’s federal water erations; to effect measurements of the infrastructure and set best policies for the water cycle, as well as water withdrawals management of water storage dams; to

62 promote the coordinated participation of Governments of the States: to con- the different institutions and organizations tribute funds that allow for the execu- having a bearing on water management tion of the works and actions needed to and conservation in Mexico. provide adequate drinking water, sewer- Universities and Other Educational age, and wastewater treatment services Institutions: to provide technical and to the population located in both cities administrative training to the staff of the and rural areas; to promote the establish- institutions and organizations involved ment of rates that favor responsible use in water management in our country, so and fair payment of water; to foster effi- that the maximum possible advantage is cient water use in productive activities; to taken of the water withdrawn while at the support the application of the strategies same time guaranteeing its conservation. proposed by top water authorities so as Industrial Sector: to comply with its to achieve sustainable water manage- fiscal and administrative obligations as ment. users of national waters; to utilize water Municipalities and Drinking Water efficiently, treat the wastewater it gener- and Sanitation Utilities: to provide ates, and promote its reuse in the differ- drinking water and sewerage services as ent productive activities for which this is needed by the population; to carry out a feasible option. actions that make it possible to ensure River Basin Councils: to participate in integrated water management by river basin and aquifer in such a way as to favor social well-being, economic development, and conservation of the environment, while also seeing to it that water is preserved for present and future generations; to take part in defining and implementing policies for the management of water storage dams; to promote the coordinated participation of the different institutions and organizations having a bearing on water management and conservation in Mexico. Technical Groundwater Committees: to participate in the integrated management of aquifers in such a way as to favor social well-being, economic development, and conservation of the environment, while also seeing to it that water is preserved for present and future generations.

63 that the water supplied to the population water to agricultural users; to keep up-to- is fit for human consumption; to make the date the official lists of agricultural users best possible use of the water obtained that employ electric power for water from supply sources; to treat the waste- withdrawals; to participate in defining water produced by cities and promote and implementing policies for managing its reuse; to fulfill their fiscal and admin- water storage dams; to adjust electrical istrative obligations as users of national power rates so as to promote sustain- waters; to link their development and able water use; to provide to the National land-use plans to water availability. Water Commission data concerning elec- Ministry of the Environment and trical power consumption by users. Natural Resources: to coordinate poli- Civil Society Organizations: to take cies, objectives, and strategies associ- part in the drafting and implementation ated with the conservation of our natural of water management plans by river basin resources. and by aquifer in such a way as to favor Ministry of Foreign Affairs: to social well-being, economic development, promote, in coordination with the respec- and conservation of the environment, tive agencies and institutions of the United while also seeing to it that water is pre- States of America, Guatemala, and Belize, served for present and future generations. programs related to water manage- Public Works and Development ment and conservation in transbound- Banks: to create the financial instruments ary river basins and aquifers. Similarly, to and mechanisms making it possible to strengthen cooperation programs with supply the funds required for conduct- multilateral agencies in order to improve ing basic research and implementing the water management in Mexico. water management plans that are estab- Agricultural Users: to increase the lished for the country’s river basins and productivity of their plots through efficient aquifers. water use; to withdraw volumes of water Ministry of Health: to support the in accordance with their titles of conces- municipalities in providing their inhabit- sion; to sow crops that are appropriate, ants with water of a quality fit for human given soil suitability and water availabil- consumption; to foster among the inhab- ity; to operate and maintain in good con- itants habits and customs associated with dition the infrastructure that has been hygiene that enable them to improve transferred to them. their quality of life. Ministry of the Economy: to partici- Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, pate in the preparation of Official Mexican Rural Development, Fishing, and Food: Standards for the water sector. to promote agricultural production based Federal Electricity Commission: to on the country’s food requirements, soil construct and run the dams utilized for suitability, and water availability; to provide electrical power generation and supply of guidelines for programs to support agri-

64 cultural areas, guaranteeing sustainable knowledge and conservation of biologi- water use; to collaborate in recovering the cal species. rights over water volumes so as to con- National Institute of Ecology: to col- tribute towards the stabilization of overex- laborate in determining the minimum ploited aquifers. flow rates of rivers in order to ensure the National Forestry Commission: to preservation of the country’s flora and conduct actions concerning soil and water fauna. conservation in the upper portions of river World Meteorological Organization: basins in order to reduce the transport of to support actions related to the knowl- solid matter towards rivers and dams. edge and forecasting of the weather and Federal Environmental Protection of meteorological and hydrometeorologi- Agency: to effect actions to supervise cal events. water quality in the country’s rivers and Ministry of Finance and Public Credit: lakes, and to apply the corresponding to determine the budget allocated to the sanctions. institutions linked to the water sector and Ministry of the Navy: to participate the corresponding timetable, helping to in actions making it possible to achieve foster expeditious and timely expenditure appropriate water management and con- of the funds granted; and, when appro- servation in the country’s coastal areas. priate, to authorize multi-annual invest- National Commission for the Knowl- ment programs. edge and Use of Biodiversity: to coor- National Congress: to agree upon dinate actions and studies related to the the policies and budgets required for the

65 water sector, as well as to evaluate and, lands, and aquifers in accordance with when appropriate, approve, requests for national laws, norms, and standards. modifications of the Law on National Ministry of Social Development: to Waters and its Regulations. support municipalities so that rural com- Local Congresses: to approve the munities may have water and sanitation implementation of rates and systems for systems; and to coordinate actions involv- measuring water use and collecting for ing urban restructuring, taking into account it that favor the responsible use of water water availability as a fundamental factor. and just payment; to agree upon the pol- Ministry of Public Education: to effect icies and budgets needed for the water actions aimed at the school-age popula- sector; to coordinate water projects of tion for the purpose of promoting efficient local interest; and to establish laws and water use and its conservation. regulations that favor efficient water use Ministry of Tourism: to effect actions and the conservation of rivers, lakes, wet- so as to achieve wise utilization and con-

66 servation of water in tourist zones and ent alternatives for attaining better water recreational areas. management and conservation. Ministry of Energy: to support actions National Commission for Protected related to the preservation of rivers, lakes, Areas: to foster and carry out activities aquifers, and wetlands. geared towards the conservation of both Mexican Institute of Water Technol- ecosystems and their biodiversity in pro- ogy: to conduct research and to develop tected areas, as well as in priority conser- technologies for the water sector. vation areas. State Citizens’ Water Councils: to build National Institute of Statistics, Geog- awareness among the population regard- raphy, and Informatics: to coordinate ing efficient water use and actions related national systems for statistical and geo- to proper water management and con- graphical information and to provide sta- servation. tistical and geographical data on Mexico’s Mexican Committee for Sustainable territory, population, and economy. Water Use: to create linkages and actions for coordination among the institutions and organizations that have or can come to have a bearing on water management and conservation in Mexico, in order to guarantee the sustainability of this resource. Water Advisory Council: to propose and implement strategies and actions that make it possible to achieve better water use and conservation, including awareness campaigns and actions. Professional associations, research institutes, universities and other institutions of higher learning, associations, and chambers of industry and commerce: to effect strategies and actions for efficient water use and just payment for this resource, and for compliance with water-related norms and standards; to conduct studies and research on water making it possible to have a better over- view of the situation of this resource in the country’s different river basins and aquifers; to propose and assess differ-

67 68 OBJECTIVE 4. To enhance the technical, administrative, and financial development of the water sector

The challenges faced by the water sector the country requires and offer them the are both complex and varied. To achieve possibility of advancing in their careers the future we have charted for ourselves, so that they may remain in the differ- we need to have sufficient funds and ent institutions and organizations where specialized staff with a very solid back- they work. In this regard, in the near ground. future we must consolidate a system In view of the fact that this sector is for certifying capacities in the National gradually losing its technical capacity, a Water Commission itself, as well as in priority for us is to make great efforts the country’s water utilities and irriga- to train the professional personnel that tion users’ associations.

69 As regards technology, it will be neces- with these programs to be mandatory by sary to allocate a much greater amount law. of funding for the purpose of conducting Financial schemes will lead to greater the practical research required by Mexi- participation by the private sector. For that co’s different regions. reason, very clear, transparent rules should An essential factor in this sense will be be set as regards its performance and the to ensure continuity in the national insti- benefits expected to be derived from its tutions that have been playing a key role involvement. in the evolution of the water sector. There have been various experiences Similarly, we will also have to see to in which the private sector has partici- it that there is a stronger link between pated in international undertakings, with research and development institutes and contrasting results. Therefore, we should the industrial sector so that firms may take the best possible advantage of each receive advisory services on water-related of these experiences, always bearing in topics, for example, with relation to treat- mind our particular setting in Mexico. ment of the wastewater they produce In the realm of function decentraliza- and how to reuse it. tion, we will continue to transfer federal In terms of funding, we need to develop powers, functions, programs, responsi- and implement schemes enabling us to bilities, and funds to state and municipal generate the monies required both for governments and to users. This will be investment in and operation and main- done with the following aims: to bring tenance of the infrastructure built. In this the government into closer contact with regard, a combination of federal, state, our citizens, to improve outcomes in sus- and municipal funds, as well as monies tainable water management, to broaden from the private sector, is essential. joint responsibility among the three tiers To reach the goals set in Mexico’s of government, to strengthen manage- National Water Program, the current pace rial capacities, and to increase the gov- and logic of investments will have to be ernment’s administrative efficiency as a radically modified. Concerning this point, whole. we would like to comment that multi- Moreover, legal and administrative annual projects should be the basis of our frameworks in the water sector have to budget or, better yet, the basis and exe- be improved in order to strengthen the cution of the budget should be grounded participation of state governments in this on the programs established in each river sector and promote the creation and con- basin or aquifer, which will be agreed solidation of State Water Commissions, upon jointly and in advance by users and conceived of as decentralized public local authorities. agencies the main aim of which is to take As we have mentioned previously, the an active part in the development of the ideal situation would be for compliance state’s water sector.

70 We should also note that this process is necessary in the water sector because it enables users and local authorities –who are in close contact with the challenges to be met –to lend greater continuity to the actions proposed on a joint basis. Thus, in the realm of water and agriculture, 3.5 million hectares in irrigation districts have been transferred to users, which represents 99.2% of the total land surface of the country’s 85 districts. This has allowed users to become organized and to effect the actions required to maintain infrastructure by enforcing the fees they themselves set and collect. To that end, and as we have remarked Infrastructure will also be transferred previously, it will be most essential to to users in technified rainfed districts, strengthen the technical and administrative which are mostly located in the country’s capacities of their work teams. This situa- southern and southeastern regions. tion is especially important if we consider With regard to the funds granted by the that the number of specialists involved in federal government through the National the water sector has been decreasing from Water Commission to support the states, year to year. municipalities, and agricultural users, it To advance towards the achievement of will be necessary to simplify the rules of the above-mentioned aims, we will estab- operation according to which said funds lish a multidisciplinary group to support are distributed, and also to evaluate the each River Basin Agency. These groups will way in which it may be possible to give be entrusted with the task of defining the more support to those municipalities and programs to be conducted in each hydro- agricultural users who are in a less privi- logical-administrative region, establishing leged financial position. the actions to be taken, the costs involved, We should also note that one of the the persons responsible for their execu- major objectives of River Basin Agencies tion, and the corresponding monitoring will consist of ensuring the conservation and assessment indicators. of rivers, lakes, and aquifers, while at the In addition, we will create a public same time obtaining the maximum social information system in each hydrological- and economic benefit from the volumes administrative region which, among other of water withdrawn, taking into account aspects, will contain a series of indicators soil suitability and environmental conser- for each river basin. This will enable users vation. of the system to become familiar with the

71 status of rivers, lakes, and aquifers, as well enhanced as a whole, and that the federal as the progress made in terms of drinking government, states, municipalities, and water, sewerage, and sanitation coverages, society join together sharing the responsi- agricultural productivity, and ecosystem bility for solving water-related problems. To recovery. that end, we will update the legal instru- This system of indicators for each river ments that regulate the relations among basin will help define the subsidies to be the various stakeholders, strengthen the applied in each of the country’s regions, exercise of authority at the national level, among other things, and also to assess and favor the administration and manage- the benefits to be obtained through their ment of water resources by regions, fol- implementation. lowing a river basin approach. In our present normative framework, there are certain laws and regulations that are difficult to apply and that hinder an optimal exercise of authority, such as fines, extensions of the period during which rights are in effect, termination of water rights, provisional permits for tempo- rary transfers of rights, and also the application of a security fee. For that reason, the necessary changes to these norms and standards will be promoted so that the legal framework is duly applied. This will also We must also note that in our country, make it possible to consider as grounds for the challenges involved in managing and legal action not only the use, exploitation or developing water resources demand that usufruct of national waters and their inher- the institutional legal framework meet ent public goods, but also the services ren- this sector’s needs and that functions dered by the National Water Commission be distributed in a harmonious fashion in the exercise of its public functions. among the three tiers of government in Insofar as Mexico’s participation in the such a manner that system capacities are international context is concerned, we

72 must note that it was host to the Fourth will be adapted to our local and national World Water Forum in 2006, and this context so they may be implemented in enabled our country to enhance its posi- the country’s different river basins. tion on the world scene as regards water- Mexico will maintain its presence in the related issues. major events on the international agenda, A very favorable synergy was estab- such as the United Nations Summits and lished in our country with each of the five the Fifth World Water Forum, in order to regions into which the world was divided continue to demonstrate its leadership for the Forum. Among other benefits, this and approach with regard to water, as led to the creation of different organiza- well as to gain greater knowledge about tions such as the European Water Union the proposals and progress being made and the Asia-Pacific Water Forum, which in different countries. That will allow us to are now making great efforts to propose evaluate the advisability of implementing and implement concrete solutions for such solutions in our country. meeting water-related challenges. Following, we present the strategies, The Fourth World Water Forum was goals, and challenges to be met for the also a setting where it was possible to objective “To enhance the technical, admin- share a series of actions in the spheres of istrative, and financial development of the water management and conservation that water sector,” as well as a description of have been put in place at the local level in the principal institutions and organizations different parts of the world. These actions that play a role in achieving this objective.

73 OBJECTIVE 4: To enhance the technical, administrative, and financial development of the water sector

STRATEGY 1: To increase public and private budgetary and financial resources and to improve their distribution and allocation in investment projects of the water sector. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Investment budget executed 227,130 4.1.1 annually in the water sector 37,860 per year 16,000 (cumulative Does not apply (in millions of 2006 pesos) figure)

STRATEGY 2: To improve institutional competitiveness by strengthening administrative, financial, and technological capacities in all the areas of the National Water Commission. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 100 Staff of the National Water (Middle- and Commission (CONAGUA) 4.2.1 top-level staff 1.2 91.8 93 certified in the Professional subject to Career Service (%) certification) Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period CONAGUA’s points in the 4.2.2 performance level of the federal 1,000 601 199 800 government’s quality model

STRATEGY 3: To consolidate applied research and technology transfer. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Design and execution of 4.3.1 the Science and Technology 1 0 1 1 Program for Water

STRATEGY 4: To promote the process being conducted by the federal government for decentralizing functions, programs, and resources to the states, municipalities, and users in order to achieve better water management. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 17 Percentage of funds transferred Value not additional 4.4.1 to the states with regard to 51 68 determined percentage CONAGUA’s investment budget points

74 STRATEGY 5: To foster compliance with the existing legal framework and to provide impetus to the development of instruments that encourage the proper use of water and its sustainable management. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Publication of the Regulations 4.5.1 1 0 1 1 of the Law on National Waters

STRATEGY 6: To enhance the water sector’s system for strategic information and indicators. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Design and implementation of 4.6.1 the National Water Information 100 5 95 100 System (%)

STRATEGY 7: To participate in deliberations and actions related to water agreed upon at the international level. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period International commitments 4.7.1 100 100 100 Does not apply attended to (%)

75 Major challenges associated with the objective that should be met

• To promote financial schemes that support the development of the water sector. • To capture and produce the funds needed by the water sector for its development. • To create technical capacities that enable us to face and resolve challenges related to water management and conservation in Mexico. • To oversee the enforcement of and compliance with the Law on National Waters. • To channel the funds of the water sector according to the order and sequence set down in the water program for each River Basin Agency. • To ensure the continuity and professional development of the technical personnel working in the water sector. • To implement the certification of staff capacities in the institutions connected with the water sector. • To generate information platforms that allow users to become familiar with the status of water in the different river basins. • To create the technical and financial mechanisms needed to guarantee proper functioning of water infrastructure. • To establish the regulatory entities required to protect the interests of both users and inhabitants and also the investments made by the private sector. • To achieve adequate linkages among research institutions and the industrial, commercial, and service sectors. • To strengthen the operational, technical, and managerial capacities of local governments and users for the execution of functions, programs, and resources to be transferred. • To promote the necessary agreements for discussing and, when appropriate, approving, modifications to the Law on National Waters, its Regulations, and other related legal measures. • To maintain Mexico’s leadership on the international scene in the realm of water.

Principal institutions and organizations that play a role in achieving the objective

National Water Commission: to establish the National Water Information evaluate the requirements of the water System. sector; to promote the decentralization of Governments of the States: to imple- functions to the local level; to obtain the ment actions allowing for efficient, timely maximum social and economic benefit expenditure of the funds at its disposal from the funds allocated to it; to propose for the purpose of executing the works necessary modifications to the Law on and actions needed to provide adequate National Waters and its Regulations; to drinking water, sewerage, and waste-

76 water treatment services to the population located in both cities and rural areas; to participate in the creation of the National Water Information System. Agricultural Users: to provide the necessary funds to increase the productivity of their plots through efficient water use, as well as to operate and maintain in good condition the infrastructure that has been transferred to them; to achieve the maximum social and economic benefit from the federal, state, and municipal funds allocated to them in order to effect irrigation modernization and technification, as well as to develop technified rainfed areas; to have up-to-date technical knowledge as needed so that they environmental management in trans- may make the best possible use of infra- boundary river basins. structure; to participate in the creation of National Congress: to agree upon the National Water Information System. the policies and budgets required for the Municipalities and Drinking Water water sector, as well as to evaluate and, and Sanitation Utilities: to produce the when appropriate, approve, requests for funds required for them to achieve tech- modifications of the Law on National nical and financial self-sufficiency for the Waters and its Regulations. purpose of providing adequate drinking Industrial Sector: to use water effi- water and sewerage services to the popu- ciently, to treat the wastewater it gen- lation, and to treat wastewater produced erates, and promote its reuse in the by cities and encourage its reuse; to fulfill different productive activities for which their fiscal obligations as users of national this is a feasible option; to comply with waters; to participate in the creation of its fiscal obligations as users of national the National Water Information System. waters. Ministry of the Environment and Local Congresses: to approve the Natural Resources: to participate in the implementation of rates and systems for drafting of modifications of the Law on measuring water use and collecting for National Waters and its Regulations; to it that favor the responsible use of water provide data on natural resources and and just payment; to agree upon the pol- the environment in the National Water icies and budgets needed for the water Information System; to take part in nego- sector; to coordinate water projects of tiations concerning natural resource and local interest; and to establish laws and

77 regulations that favor efficient water use cive to efficient water use and to provide and the conservation of rivers, lakes, wet- adequate drinking water and sewerage lands, and aquifers in accordance with services to the population both in cities national laws, norms, and standards. and in rural communities; to propose Universities and Other Educational wastewater treatment processes that are Institutions: to provide technical and best suited to the local level, considering administrative training to the institu- its reuse. tions and organizations involved in water Ministry of Finance and Public Credit: management in our country, so that the to determine the budget allocated to the maximum possible advantage is taken of institutions linked to the water sector and the water withdrawn while at the same the corresponding timetable, helping to time guaranteeing its conservation. foster expeditious and timely expenditure Mexican Institute of Water Technol- of the funds granted; and, when appro- ogy: to coordinate, promote, and direct priate, to authorize multi-annual invest- technological research and development ment programs. in the field of water, including dissemina- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: to promote tion and human resource education and technical and financial coordination with training at the national level. the respective agencies and institutions Service-providing companies: to eval- of the United States of America for the uate and propose technologies condu- purpose of conducting programs related to water management and conservation in transboundary river basins and aquifers. National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics: to coordinate national systems for statistical and geographical information and to provide statistical and geographical data on Mex- ico’s territory, population, and economy; to support the creation of the National Water Information System. River Basin Councils: to participate in the preparation and implementation of water management plans by river basin and aquifer in such a way as to favor social well-being, economic development, and conservation of the environment, while also seeing to it that water is preserved for present and future generations; to promote the coordinated participation

78 of the different institutions and organiza- creation of the National Water Informa- tions having a bearing on water manage- tion System. ment and conservation in Mexico. Federal Electricity Commission: to Technical Groundwater Committees: construct and run the dams utilized for to participate in the preparation and imple- electrical power generation and supply mentation of water management plans of of water to agricultural users; to partici- aquifers in such a way as to favor social pate in the creation of the National Water well-being, economic development, and Information System. conservation of the environment, while Ministry of the Economy: to partici- also seeing to it that water is preserved pate in the drafting of Official Mexican for present and future generations. Standards for the water sector. Ministry of Health: to assist municipalities so that their inhabitants receive water of a quality fit for human consumption; to foster among the inhabitants habits and customs associated with hygiene that enable them to improve their quality of life; to participate in the creation of the National Water Informa- tion System. Research and Technological Institutes: to devise new approaches in the area of technological research and development in order to conserve water and allocate it efficiently and fairly among the different users, both in cities and in rural areas. Ministry of the Public Function: to promote actions involving good government and institutional development; to coordinate actions related to the certification of capacities in the federal public sector. Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing, and Food: to allocate the technical and financial resources needed to promote agricultural production based on the country’s food requirements, soil suitability, and water availability; to participate in the

79 80 OBJECTIVE 5. To consolidate the participation of users and organized society in water management and to promote a culture for the proper use of this resource

The water-related challenges currently ernment (federal, state, and municipal), faced by the Mexican federal govern- with the support of society as a whole. ment call for a change in attitude on the The establishment of River Basin Coun- part of society through the promotion of cils as agencies for reaching agreements a new culture based on shared respon- and ensuring coordination among users sibility, a sense of community, and water and authorities constitute an ideal arena solidarity. for achieving this sector’s objectives by To that effect, in Mexico’s National motivating citizens to become involved Water Program 2007-2012 we have set and make a commitment regarding this goals involving the three tiers of gov- resource.

River Basin Councils in Mexico

No. Name Date installed Hydrological-administrative region

1 Baja California Sur March 3, 2000 I Baja California Peninsula

2 Baja California Dec. 7, 1999 I Baja California Peninsula

81 No. Name Date installed Hydrological-administrative region

3 Upper Northwest March 19, 1999 II Northwest

4 Yaqui and Mátape Rivers Aug. 30, 2000 II Northwest

5 Mayo River Aug. 30, 2000 II Northwest

6 Fuerte and Sinaloa Rivers Dec. 10, 1999 III Northern Pacific

7 Mocorito to Quelite Rivers Dec. 10, 1999 III Northern Pacific

8 Presidio to San Pedro Rivers June 15, 2000 III Northern Pacific

9 Balsas River March 26, 1999 IV Balsas

10 Guerrero Coast March 29, 2000 V Southern Pacific

11 Oaxaca Coast Apr. 7, 1999 V Southern Pacific

12 Río Bravo Jan. 21, 1999 VI Río Bravo

13 Nazas-Aguanaval Dec. 1, 1998 VII Central Basins of the North

14 Del Altiplano Nov. 23, 1999 VII Central Basins of the North

15 Lerma Chapala Jan. 28, 1993 VIII Lerma-Santiago-Pacific

16 Santiago River July 14, 1999 VIII Lerma-Santiago-Pacific

San Fernando-Soto La Marina 17 Aug. 26, 1999 IX Northern Gulf Rivers

18 Pánuco River Aug. 26, 1999 IX Northern Gulf

19 Tuxpan to Jamapa Rivers Sept. 12, 2000 X Central

20 Papaloapan River June 16, 2000 X Central

21 Coatzacoalcos River June 16, 2000 X Central

22 Chiapas Coast Jan. 26, 2000 XI Southern Border

23 Grijalva-Usumacinta Aug. 11, 2000 XI Southern Border

24 Yucatán Peninsula Dec. 14, 1999 XII Yucatán Peninsula

25 Valley of Mexico Aug. 16, 1995 XIII Waters of the Valley of Mexico

Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico, 2007 edition. National Water Commission.

82 These councils have now given rise topic of water has earned an important to various auxiliary bodies that attend to position thanks to the fact that Mexico’s specific problems associated with smaller political and social actors have turned geographical territories; thus, there are 17 their attention to water-related topics, River Basin Commissions that function in such as water availability, access to water, sub-river basins, 22 River Basin Commit- and the effects of climate change. tees that work in micro-river basins, and So now more than ever, we need real 31 Clean Beaches Committees. and active participation by communica- Also to be mentioned are the Techni- tors so that they may help give the theme cal Groundwater Committees (COTAS in of water its true value, i.e., as a strate- Spanish), whose major objective is to pre- gic resource on which national security serve the country’s aquifers. Each of these depends. committees may cover one or more aqui- One of the major challenges faced by fers, with freely elected representatives of the present administration is to inform the users for the different uses of water. To population in a timely way about water date, a total of 76 such committees have availability and the costs of supplying it, been installed. making a call to use it responsibly and Moreover, as part of the functional to fully appreciate its economic, social, bodies of the River Basin Councils, 41 sanitary, and environmental values. Now- operational manager’s offices have adays, society knows that using water been established to provide technical and administrative support to the different River Basin Committees, River Basin Commissions, and the COTAS. It is necessary for the federal government and the states to continue to provide them with the technical and financial resources they need to be able to consolidate their managerial autonomy, besides guaranteeing their active participation in the preparation and implementation of water programs by river basin and aquifer, with the representation of the most vulnerable groups, such as women, indigenous people, and senior citizens, so that the levels of representativeness of these associations may be strengthened. As regards the role of the media as obligatory referents for public opinion, the

83 the situation experienced on a day-to-day basis by the water sector. A group that is especially important as well is the Water Advisory Council, which is an autonomous agency comprised of leaders of opinion that will play a more active role in building awareness among society concerning water-related matters and in the implementation of solutions agreed upon for our most relevant problems. In addition, we will need greater coordination between public agencies and civil society organizations whose work is geared to protecting water and the environment, in order to join forces and improperly and wasting it have brought resources in the different river basins. negative effects both for the environment In this regard, a fundamental factor will and for the quality of life of our citizens. be systematic efforts within the Mexican This is no easy task. That is why actions Committee for Sustainable Water Use, in the sphere of social communication which is comprised of more than twenty and a reinforcement of the channels for institutions and organizations interested institutional dialogue must foster a new in working hand in hand to face water- perception of water-related issues, build- related challenges in our country. ing an awareness of the fact that this Similarly, education in topics related resource calls for a commitment and to the proper use and care of water will shared responsibility by all Mexicans. be one of the essential premises for the Therefore, the ongoing presence of this current government administration. topic in different media campaigns will Promoting a new culture regarding make it possible for water to gain its true water and building awareness about this dimension and presence before Mexican resource, as well as care for the environ- audiences, making them co-participants ment and natural resources, are funda- of the view that our current administra- mental if we are to ensure the population tion will maintain for this sector. a suitable quality of life. The strategic alliances that are put in For this purpose, talks in schools and place with major social actors, leaders of communities will be held, key concepts opinion, the media, and decision-makers associated with water management and will also contribute significantly to posi- conservation will be included in school tioning these messages in keeping with textbooks, municipal spaces to foster

84 a water culture will be opened up, and among other aspects, serve as a refer- innovative formulas for achieving out- ence and means of consultation for draft- reach with society will be implemented. ing programs by river basin and aquifer, A shared vision of the value of water the Historical Water Archives will be con- and the challenges this resource faces, solidated. through strategic tools such as dialogue Following, we present the strategies, and information, will be crucial for gener- goals, and challenges to be met for the ating new forms of coordination among objective “To consolidate the participation the members of society, in which syn- of users and organized society in water ergies and support networks will be management and to promote a culture privileged as regards problems that are for the proper use of this resource,” as common and that affect us all, with the well as a description of the principal insti- aim of avoiding conflicts and offering tutions and organizations that play a role solutions to existing ones. in achieving this objective. All these actions should be accompa- nied by suitable schemes for measuring water use, and billing and collecting fees from water users, as well as the measures and instruments that will be utilized by agricultural associations and drinking water and sanitation utilities to promote the proper use of this precious liquid. Lastly, given the need to organize the vast archives of the water sector which,

85 OBJECTIVE 5:

To consolidate the participation of users and organized society in water management and to promote a culture for the proper use of this resource

STRATEGY 1: To build awareness among the population on the need to pay for water and use it responsibly and efficiently. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

National media campaigns on 5.1.1 the importance, proper use, 24 Does not apply 24 24 and payment of water

STRATEGY 2: To inform the population in a timely, effective way about water scarcity, the costs of supplying water, how to use it responsibly, and its economic, sanitary, social, and environmental values. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Bulletins, stenographic versions of relevant events, and other 5.2.1 institutional materials available 100 100 100 Does not apply to the public through the CONAGUA Internet (%)

STRATEGY 3: To promote educational and communication programs to foster a water culture.

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

To include the theme of water culture in elementary school 5.3.1 100 - - - 100 100 textbooks dealing with the topic of the environment (%)

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Creation of spaces for 5.3.2 2,590 1,120 1,470 2,590 promoting a water culture

86 STRATEGY 4: To position the topic of water as a strategic resource upon which national security depends.

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period To implement Water Culture 5.4.1 Programs in the country’s 32 32 0 32 32 states

STRATEGY 5: To consolidate the managerial autonomy of River Basin Councils.

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

River Basin Councils with 5.5.1 26 0 26 26 ongoing water programs

STRATEGY 6: To strengthen the managerial autonomy of the auxiliary bodies of River Basin Councils.

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Technical Groundwater 5.6.1 Committees with management 76 0 18 18 programs Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Clean Beaches Committees 5.6.2 30 0 12 12 with management programs Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period River Basin Committees 5.6.3 and Commissions with 39 0 12 12 management programs

STRATEGY 7: To foster the institutional development of agencies and organizations that participate in water management. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Staff of the water and sanitation 5.7.1 8,000 800 6,950 7,750 utilities that have been trained

87 STRATEGY 8: To consolidate the operation of the Water Advisory Council and of the Mexican Committee for Sustainable Water Use. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Actions implemented jointly by 5.8.1 the National Water Commission 36 Does not apply 18 18 and the Water Advisory Council Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Actions implemented within 5.8.2 the Mexican Committee for 60 Does not apply 30 30 Sustainable Water Use

STRATEGY 9: To support vulnerable segments of society (women, youths, indigenous people, senior citizens, and the handicapped) in gaining access to water and in participating in decision-making regarding this resource. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Inclusion of women, youths, indigenous people, senior 5 5.9.1 citizens, and the handicapped 3 2 5 sectors in the Mexican Committee for Sustainable Water Use

88 Major challenges associated with the objective that should be met

• To see to it that both users and authorities work together harmoniously towards common objectives in the country’s different river basins. • To develop and instill the concepts of common asset and hydrosolidarity in the country’s river basins. • To keep the population informed about water-related matters and the progress being made. • To build an awareness among the population of the need to use water responsibly and pay a fair price for it. • To incorporate civil society organizations in water management and conservation in the country’s different river basins. • To ensure that the most vulnerable groups are duly represented on River Basin Councils and their auxiliary bodies. • To consolidate River Basin Councils as key elements in integrated water resources management and to strengthen them in accordance with the terms of the Law on National Waters.

Principal institutions and organizations that play a role in achieving the objective

National Water Commission: to making it possible to take the greatest promote the participation of society in possible advantage of water, from supply water management and conservation in sources to its consumption by different order to achieve sustainable water use; users, through water culture programs and to help build an awareness among the awareness campaigns; to treat the waste- population regarding the importance of water produced by cities and promote its using water responsibly and paying a fair reuse; to implement suitable systems for price for it; to aid in solving water-related measuring water use and billing and col- conflicts; to coordinate the Mexican Com- lecting the corresponding fees for it, in mittee for Sustainable Water Use. order to promote responsible water use Governments of the States: to promote and also technical and financial self-suffi- actions geared to achieving the responsi- ciency in water service provision. ble use of water and fair payment for this River Basin Councils: to participate in resource among the entire population; to the preparation and implementation of take an active part in River Basin Councils water management plans by river basin and in the implementation of programs and aquifer in such a way as to favor social proposed or approved by said councils. well-being, economic development, and Municipalities and Drinking Water conservation of the environment, while and Sanitation Utilities: to effect actions also seeing to it that water is preserved

89 for present and future generations; to of plans and programs making it possible promote the coordinated participation to supervise water quality in the country’s of the different institutions and organiza- rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coasts. tions having a bearing on water manage- Water Advisory Council: to propose ment and conservation in Mexico. and implement strategies and actions Ministry of the Environment and that make it possible to achieve better Natural Resources: to participate in the water use and conservation; to conduct preparation and implementation of water awareness campaigns and other actions management plans by river basin and with society and with users of national aquifer in such a way as to favor social waters in order to ensure proper use of well-being, economic development, and this resource. conservation of the environment, while Mexican Committee for Sustainable also seeing to it that water is preserved Water Use: to establish links and actions for present and future generations. geared to coordination among the insti- Ministry of Health: to participate in tutions and organizations that are or may the preparation of plans and programs come to be involved in water manage- that help municipalities provide their ment and conservation in Mexico in order inhabitants with water of a quality fit for to guarantee water sustainability. human consumption; to foster among Society as a whole: to achieve effi- the inhabitants habits and customs asso- cient use of the water it employs and to ciated with hygiene. make the corresponding payments for Ministry of Tourism: to participate in the provision of drinking water, sewerage, the preparation of plans and programs and wastewater treatment services. that help conserve the country’s tourist Agricultural Users: to increase the sites and recreational areas through suit- productivity of their plots through effi- able water management and conser- cient water use; to play an active role vation; to take part in campaigns contrib- through their representatives in River uting towards the best possible use of Basin Councils and in the implementa- water and its conservation. tion of programs proposed or approved Ministry of the Navy: to participate in by said councils. the preparation of plans and programs Industrial sector: to use water effi- making it possible to achieve appropriate ciently, to treat the wastewater it gen- water management and conservation in the erates, and promote its reuse in the country’s coastal areas; to take part in different productive activities for which campaigns contributing towards the best this is a feasible option; to play an active possible use of water and its conserva- role through their representatives in River tion. Basin Councils and in the implementa- Federal Environmental Protection tion of programs proposed or approved Agency: to participate in the preparation by said councils.

90 Leaders of opinion: to inform society as to the situation of water in our country’s different river basins and aquifers, as well as the actions proposed for meeting current challenges and the way in which society may participate in those actions. The media: to inform society as to the situation of water in our country’s different river basins and aquifers, as well as the actions proposed for meeting current challenges and the way in which society may participate in those actions. Service-providing companies: to evaluate and propose technologies conducive to efficient water use and to provide adequate drinking water and sewerage services to the population both in cities and in rural communities; to propose waste- Ministry of the Interior: to approve water treatment processes that are best campaigns promoting a culture of proper suited to the local level, considering its use and conservation of water that are reuse; to conduct awareness campaigns carried out by federal agencies. among the population concerning the Universities and Other Educational importance of using water properly and Institutions: to provide technical and conserving it. administrative training to the institu- Technical Groundwater Commit- tions and organizations involved in water tees: to participate in the preparation management in our country, so that the and implementation of water manage- maximum possible advantage is taken of ment plans of aquifers in such a way as to the water withdrawn while at the same favor social well-being, economic devel- time guaranteeing its conservation. opment, and conservation of the envi- Mexican Institute of Water Technol- ronment, while also seeing to it that ogy: to coordinate, promote, and direct water is preserved for present and future technological research and development generations. in the field of water, including dissemina- Ministry of Public Education: to tion and human resource education and conduct actions aimed at the school-age training at the national level. population in order to promote efficient Research and Technological Insti- water use and its conservation, including tutes: to devise new approaches in the specific chapters in textbooks devoted to area of technological research and devel- caring for water and the environment. opment in order to use water efficiently

91 and conserve it in both cities and rural Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, areas, as well as in the industrial sector. Rural Development, Fishing, and Food: Ministry of Finance and Public Credit: to promote agricultural production based to determine the budget allocated to the on the country’s food requirements, soil institutions linked to the water sector and suitability, and water availability, consid- the corresponding timetable, helping to ering efficient use as a basic premise. foster expeditious and timely expenditure Civil Society Organizations: to par- of the funds granted; and, when appro- ticipate in the preparation and imple- priate, to authorize multi-annual invest- mentation of water management plans ment programs. by river basin and aquifer in such a way Ministry of Social Development: as to favor social well-being, economic to support municipalities so that rural development, and conservation of the communities have water and sanitation environment, while also seeing to it that systems, considering social participation water is preserved for present and future as a key element. generations. Ministry of Labor: to support pro- National Congress: to agree upon cesses for training the staff that works in the policies and budgets required for the institutions and organizations which are water sector, as well as to evaluate and, involved in water management and con- when appropriate, approve, requests for servation. modifications of the Law on National State Citizens’ Water Councils: to Waters and its Regulations. build awareness among the population of efficient water use and actions related to its proper management and conservation.

92 OBJECTIVE 6. To prevent risks related to meteorological and hydrometeorological events and attend to their effects

Because of its geographical location, due to the location of human settlements Mexico is exposed to different severe in flood-susceptible areas. meteorological and hydrometeorological In the realm of land-use planning, it will events. In this regard, among the events be necessary to conclude a demarcation of this kind that have the greatest impact of the most vulnerable areas in terms of in our country are hurricanes. flooding or possible slope faults through Insofar as hurricanes’ positive effects the experience already amassed and are concerned, they help increase water available data, in order to avoid the estab- stored in dams and lakes, which in turn lishment of human settlements in those is reflected in greater water availability for areas and, to the extent possible, proceed cities, irrigation, and electric power genera- to relocate the inhabitants of such areas tion. Similarly, they favor aquifer recharge in order to guarantee their safety. and improve the ecosystem on the whole. Experience has shown us that to miti- However, in contrast, hurricanes can gate possible damage associated with also cause different types of damage to the occurrence of hurricanes, we should the population, infrastructure, services, and work mainly by taking preventive actions. production systems. This damage is height- For that reason, we shall strengthen the ened due to the transport of soils and water Mexican National Meteorological Service; brought about by deforestation and also among other aspects, this will allow us

93 to generate more frequent and accurate once again retain both soil and water, and forecasts on the weather, climate, and thus will contribute to reducing possible occurrence and evolution of the different floods in the lower parts of river basins. meteorological and hydrometeorological As part of these preventive actions, events, to the benefit of the population. we will continue to install early warning In addition, we will maintain our coop- systems for our inhabitants, as well as to eration already established with the World effect measurements in real time of flow Meteorological Organization in order to rates in the country’s most important exchange relevant data and information rivers so as to inform the population –with on the weather and climate with other the support of the media– about the areas countries, to benefit from the knowledge that may be affected by hurricanes. acquired in other parts of the world. Moreover, we will need to implement In the sphere of infrastructure, we will the emergency plans that have been continue to build works for controlling and worked out for rivers that may cause regulating flow rates of rivers to protect our damage by overflowing. inhabitants and productive zones located It will also be necessary to take system- in sites that have traditionally been the atic steps for maintaining and conserving most affected by these events, mainly in rivers and adapting the structures that the states of Tabasco and Chiapas. exist in them which may block the flow of As a complement to these efforts, we water, such as the case of columns sup- shall strengthen reforestation programs in porting some road bridges. the upper parts of river basins and eroded While the above-mentioned actions areas. This will make it possible for them to will be fundamental for mitigating the effects associated with the occurrence of meteorological and hydrometeorological events, we will establish flood zones that have previously been defined so as to temporarily store extraordinary volumes of water produced, thus diminishing possible harm and damages to the population and productive areas. In a complementary fashion, we will continue to maintain insurance on the federal government’s most important water infrastructure that could be affected as a result of the aforementioned events. This will be done so that the economic impact associated with their rehabilitation is lower for the country and the government.

94 As regards actions to be taken for the purpose of attending to damages caused by extreme hydrometeorological events, the National Water Commission will work in conjunction with states, municipalities, and federal agencies on the actions required to: • Reestablish and normalize the provision of water and sanitation services. • Evacuate the volumes of excess water in flooded settlements. • Oversee the behavior of water infrastructure, including water storage dams. • Avoid the occurrence of possible outbreaks of disease. aside from the impact this has on the • Provide drinking water as an emer- region’s flora and fauna. gency measure in shelters, hospitals, The most important strategy for miti- health centers, and to the population gating the effects of droughts consists of in general. having contingency plans including pre- To support these actions, the National ventive and mitigating actions. Water Commission will run the thirteen We will also have to work within our Regional Centers for Attending to Emer- River Basin Councils on the preparation gencies and will set up another seven, of regulations to be applied during times which will have mobile purification plants, of drought. These regulations will include pumping equipment, plants for indepen- indications as to the volumes that should dent electric power generation, and pipe be allotted to each water use in the face trucks. of different degrees of scarcity, and the Another important matter is that, given mechanisms that will make it possible to Mexico’s geographical location, it is also verify compliance with them. susceptible to droughts, an unpredictable Following, we present the strategies, phenomenon that can occur in any part goals, and challenges to be met for the of our country. Droughts drastically reduce objective “To prevent risks related to the volumes of water stored in dams and meteorological and hydrometeorological also diminish aquifer recharge, jeopardiz- events and attend to their effects,” as well ing drinking water supply and affecting as a description of the principal institu- agricultural, livestock, and industrial activi- tions and organizations that play a role in ties, as well as electric power generation, achieving this objective.

95 OBJECTIVE 6:

To prevent risks related to meteorological and hydrometeorological events and attend to their effects

STRATEGY 1: To promote the relocation of human settlements located in risk areas. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Projects for demarcating federal 6.1.1 683 418 265 683 zones

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Compendium in each River Basin Agency that identifies 6.1.2 human settlements located in 13 0 13 13 risk areas in demarcated federal rivers

STRATEGY 2: To provide the National Civil Protection System and the population with timely, reliable information on the occurrence and evolution of severe meteorological and hydrometeorological events. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Bulletins and warnings issued in a timely fashion Not feasible to 6.2.1 on the occurrence of 8,800 41,040 49,840 determine extreme meteorological and hydrometeorological events STRATEGY 3: To transform, renovate, and modernize the National Meteorological Service and to widen its monitoring coverage. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Modern radar systems in 6.3.1 36 4 10 14 operation

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

10,950 3,787 6.3.2 Radio sounding measurements 52,560 56,347 every year in that year

96 Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period 66 Automatic meteorological (26 new and 6.3.3 120 94 120 stations 40 that replace others) Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Modern meteorological 6.3.4 79 12 67 79 observatories in operation

STRATEGY 4: To help reestablish drinking water, sewerage, and sanitation services to the population during emergency situations. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Regional Centers for Attending 6.4.1 20 13 7 20 to Emergencies in operation Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Reestablishment of drinking water, sewerage, and sanitation 6.4.2 services in hydrometeorological 100 0 100 0 emergency situations (%)

STRATEGY 5: To implement actions for restoration and preservation in the upper parts of river basins in order to reduce runoff and possible negative effects. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period River basins and technified 3 river basins 3 river basins rainfed districts doing work Value not 6.5.1 - - - 120,000 120,000 related to water management determined hectares hectares and soil conservation

STRATEGY 6: To conduct preventive actions that make it possible to be in a better position to face hydrometeorological events. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

6.6.1 Warning systems installed 79 0 13 13

97 Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Regional meteorological centers 6.6.2 5 0 3 3 installed

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

6.6.3 Emergency plans prepared 229 79 150 229

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Emergency plans implemented 6.6.4 in coordination with state 79 0 71 71 governments

STRATEGY 7: To maintain, conserve, and expand water infrastructure to protect population centers and productive areas.

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

6.7.1 Productive hectares protected 1’700,000 81,175 150,000 231,175

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

6.7.2 Inhabitants protected 14’115,000 4’600,000 6’000,000 10’600,000

STRATEGY 8: To promote ecological land-use programs in regions at risk due to hydrometeorological events.

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Ecological land-use programs prepared in the states which 6.8.1 include protection of human 32 0 7 7 settlements and productive areas in risk zones

98 STRATEGY 9: To prepare prevention plans that make it possible to deal with periods of drought more satisfactorily and to support their implementation. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Drought contingency plans that 6.9.1 have been prepared for each 13 0 6 6 River Basin Agency

STRATEGY 10: To foster among the population a culture for preventing and attending to emergencies including information on the causes and effects of climate change. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Campaigns geared to 6.10.1 preventing damages caused by 6 0 6 6 hydrometeorological events

Major challenges associated with the objective that should be met

• To strengthen a culture of prevention associated with the occurrence of meteorological and hydrometeorological events. • To define the most vulnerable zones in terms of meteorological and hydrometeorological events. • To achieve land-use planning in high-risk areas. • To relocate human settlements situated in risk areas. • To involve the population in actions related to soil and water management in the upper portions of river basins, as well as in the maintenance of and care for the corresponding infrastructure works. • To deal more satisfactorily with the droughts that occur in our country. • To strengthen coordination linkages among the institutions involved in the water sector. • To increase the economic participation of state and municipal governments in planned projects and works in order to make substantially greater progress, as well as to achieve more participation on their part in solving social and political problems related to the protection of our inhabitants and infrastructure construction.

99 Principal institutions and organizations that play a role in achieving the objective

National Water Commission: to coor- ated with the occurrence of meteorological dinate the preparation and implementa- and hydrometeorological events; to inform tion of programs and actions that make it the authorities, media, and general public possible to reduce the effects associated about forecasts, occurrences, and the evo- with meteorological and hydrometeoro- lution of events of this type. logical events; to provide timely informa- Ministry of Communications and tion to authorities, the media, and the Transportation: to conduct actions general public regarding forecasts, occur- making it possible to protect and reestab- rences, and the evolution of events of this lish roads, bridges, and highways affected type; when necessary, to help reestablish by the occurrence of meteorological and drinking water, sewerage, and waste- hydrometeorological events. water treatment services in emergency Society as a whole: to follow the recom- situations. mendations and take the actions defined Governments of the States: to prepare by civil protection systems for the purpose and implement land-use programs, con- of safeguarding lives and property. sidering as a key component risk areas River Basin Councils: to participate and the associated actions for protecting in the preparation and implementation them; to effect relocations of human set- of programs and actions making it possi- tlements found in risk areas; to participate ble to reduce the effects associated with in the implementation of early warning meteorological and hydrometeorological systems in order to diminish possible events. damages associated with the occurrence National Institute of Statistics, Geog- of hurricanes; to take part in the prepara- raphy, and Informatics: to provide the tion and implementation of the programs statistical and cartographical data needed created in river basins to deal with pos- to prepare and implement programs and sible droughts that may occur in them; actions that allow for reducing the effects to provide financial support for actions associated with meteorological and geared to protecting and conserving the hydrometeorological events. soil and water; to attend to the social and Ministry of the Environment and political problems that arise. Natural Resources: to prepare and im- Ministry of the Interior: to coordinate plement plans for ecological land-use the preparation and implementation of the planning so as to favor social well-be- programs and actions required to prevent ing, economic development, and envi- and attend to droughts and floods; to nego- ronmental conservation; to coordinate tiate the provision of the funds needed to actions for restoring river basins that have prevent and attend to the effects associ- been deforested.

100 Agricultural Users: to take part in and supervising all activities related to the actions for restoring river basins that have National Civil Protection System that are been deforested; to collaborate in pro- within its sphere of competence. grams implemented to protect produc- World Meteorological Organization: tive areas. to support actions related to knowledge The media: to provide timely infor- and forecasting of the weather and meteor- mation to the authorities and general ological and hydrometeorological events. public concerning forecasts, occurrences, Municipalities and Drinking Water and the evolution of meteorological and and Sanitation Utilities: to participate hydrometeorological events; to inform in the preparation and implementation the population about how they should of programs and actions making it pos- act and the ways in which they may coop- sible to reduce the effects associated with erate in order to support the reestablish- meteorological and hydrometeorological ment of drinking water, sewerage, and events; to take part in the implementa- wastewater treatment services in emer- tion of early warning systems geared to gency situations. diminishing the possible damages associ- Ministry of Finance and Public Credit: ated with the occurrence of hurricanes; to to determine the budget allocated to the reestablish drinking water, sewerage, and institutions linked to the water sector and wastewater treatment services in emer- the corresponding timetable, helping to gency situations. foster expeditious and timely expenditure Technical Groundwater Committees: of the funds granted; to grant additional to participate in actions aimed at conserv- funds as required to attend to emergency ing aquifers; to take part in the prepara- situations that occur in Mexico and, when tion and implementation of the programs appropriate, to authorize multi-annual investment programs. Ministry of National Defense: to protect the individuals and society in general in the event there is a disaster brought on by natural forces in the country, through actions within its sphere of competence that diminish or eliminate the loss of human lives, the destruction of property, and damages to nature. Ministry of the Navy: to protect both persons and their property in the coastal belt it is responsible for, as a fundamental aim of civil protection activities; to participate in planning, organizing, coordinating,

101 established for river basins and aquifers Ministry of Foreign Affairs: to promote to deal with possible droughts that may technical and financial coordination with occur in them. foreign and multilateral agencies and insti- Federal Electricity Commission: to par- tutions for the purpose of conducting pro- ticipate in the preparation and implemen- grams and actions making it possible to tation of programs and actions making it reduce the effects associated with meteor- possible to reduce the effects associated ological and hydrometeorological events. with meteorological and hydrometeoro- Service-providing companies: to take logical events. part in the actions required to reestablish Universities and Other Educational the provision of drinking water, sewer- Institutions: to provide technical and age, and wastewater treatment services in administrative training to the institutions emergency situations. and organizations involved in actions National Forestry Commission: to related to preventing and attending to the effect actions for conserving soil and water effects associated with the occurrence of in the upper portions of river basins so meteorological and hydrometeorological as to reduce the transport of sediments events. towards rivers and dams. National Congress: to allocate the Civil Society Organizations: to partici- additional funds needed to attend to pate in the preparation and implementa- emergency situations that arise in Mexico. tion of programs and actions making it Ministry of Health: to support the rees- possible to reduce the effects associated tablishment of drinking water services and with meteorological and hydrometeoro- to help safeguard the population’s health logical events. in emergency situations. Public Works and Development Ministry of Social Development: to Banks: to create financial instruments support, in emergency situations, the rees- and mechanisms as needed to supply the tablishment of drinking water and sewer- funds required for implementing programs age services in rural communities. and actions making it possible to reduce Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, the effects associated with meteorological Rural Development, Fishing, and Food: and hydrometeorological events. to take part in actions geared to restoring Water Advisory Council: to propose river basins that have been deforested; to strategies concerning preventive actions participate in the preparation and imple- that make it possible to deal in a better mentation of programs established in way with the effects associated with river basins in order to deal with possible meteorological and hydrometeorological droughts that may occur in them. events.

102 OBJECTIVE 7. To assess the effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle

One of the challenges currently faced by thus affecting water availability for cities, humankind has to do with climate change. industries, irrigation, and electric power According to what has been stated by the generation. Interministerial Commission on Climate As regards water quality, it is predicted Change in Mexico, the problem is that the that in some rivers, quality could be volumes of greenhouse gases, especially diminished as a result of a rise in tem- carbon dioxide, that have been emitted peratures, since that would favor the pro- over the past 150 years of industrializa- liferation of different microorganisms and tion surpass the capacity of the biosphere aquatic weeds. to absorb them, and the net result is a Moreover, climate change may cause constant increase in the concentrations an increase in sea levels due both to of those gases, which hinder the emis- thermal dilation of the oceans and to the sion of energy towards outer space and melting of polar ice caps, which would exacerbate the natural process known as mainly affect persons, ecosystems, and the “greenhouse effect.” infrastructure in productive zones located One of the direct consequences of near the coast. Similarly, this would lead to climate change is that it will most likely a migration of the saline interface inland cause an even greater rise in the average because the equilibrium between sea global temperature which, among other water and fresh water would be altered. effects, may lead to a reduction in rainfall Our country has issued reports on pos- and, therefore, in runoff in rivers, water sible scenarios based on global atmos- stored in dams, and aquifer recharge, pheric models; studies with models on a

103 regional scale will be conducted to assess measures that make it possible to miti- in greater detail the effects of climate gate the associated effects on drinking change in Mexico. water supply for cities, irrigation, electric In this regard, it will be essential to power generation, and tourism. Similarly, compile and analyze the data that the we will define the actions to be taken to National Water Commission has; that conserve our country’s biodiversity. data will be enhanced with information We will also identify zones that have obtained by other institutions and orga- become floodable due to a rise in sea nizations. levels and, when appropriate, effect relo- In addition, studies will be made on cations of human settlements and con- the possible impact climate change may struct the appropriate protection works. have on potential evapotranspiration We will systematically inform the pop- in our country, as well as the degree of ulation as to concepts related to climate vulnerability to and possible impacts of change, its repercussions, and the ways in saline intrusion in aquifers, and changes which Mexicans may prepare themselves in the behavior of extreme events; maps in order to reduce its effects. will be prepared of risks associated with The data collected in the country and a rise in sea levels, changes in the rainfall the findings obtained will be shared with regime, and the impact of both on water other countries in order to gain a greater infrastructure. understanding of the phenomenon of Once the data has been duly com- climate change on a global scale. We will piled, this will allow us to effect a series also evaluate the actions taken in other of projections to assess trends in climate countries so we may adapt in our territory change, mainly in terms of precipitation, those we deem most advisable. runoff, water storage in dams, aquifer Following, we present the strategies, recharge, and water quality, for the goals, and challenges to be met for the purpose of evaluating and implementing objective “To assess the effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle,” as well as a description of the principal institutions and organizations that play a role in achieving this objective.

104 OBJECTIVE 7:

To assess the effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle

STRATEGY 1: To evaluate the effects of climate change on variables of the hydrological cycle. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Compilation of information related to the effects of climate 100 7.1.1 change on variables of the (of digitalized 70 30 100 hydrological cycle information) (%) Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Characterization studies on climate change on a national 7.1.2 1 0 1 1 scale based on numerical models (including calibration) STRATEGY 2: To measure and assess parameters having a bearing on climate change. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period To implement a system for measuring variables of the 7.2.1 climate and of the hydrological 1 0 1 1 cycle on which climate change has a bearing Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period To install an observatory for measuring the chemical composition of the atmosphere 7.2.2 1 0 1 1 and density of aerosols as a contribution to the world network of such observatories

STRATEGY 3: To promote and support research and development and technology transfer in the realm of adaptation measures in the face of climate change. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Research studies to characterize the country’s regions in terms 7.3.1 13 0 13 13 of climate change, including the associated maps

105 Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Study concerning the impact of climate change on potential 7.3.2 1 0 1 1 evapotranspiration on a global scale Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Studies on vulnerability, scenarios, and possible impacts 7.3.3 and alternatives for solving the 18 0 18 18 problem of saline intrusion in aquifers Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period

Studies on possible variations in 7.3.4 5 0 5 5 the behavior of extreme events

Major challenges associated with the objective that should be met

• To develop technical capacities in the different institutions making it possible to precisely determine the effects associated with climate change on the water sector. • To increase the exchange of data and findings with different national and international entities for the purpose of assessing the effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle. • To build awareness among the population about the importance and effects of climate change. • To define and implement the programs and actions required to address the problem of climate change.

106 Principal institutions and organizations that play a role in achieving the objective

National Water Commission: to coor- development of technical capacities in dinate the preparation of studies to assess the water sector to determine the dimen- the effects associated with climate change sions of the effects of climate change. on the variables of the hydrological cycle; to Ministry of Energy: to participate in coordinate the implementation of a system the programs and actions of the Intermin- for measuring variables of the climate and isterial Commission on Climate Change. the hydrological cycle in which climate Ministry of the Navy: to take part in change has a bearing; to participate in the preparation of assessment studies research and development and technol- on the effects associated with climate ogy transfer in the field of adaptation to change, providing information on seas climate change; to build technical capaci- and coasts. ties in the water sector that will enable us Ministry of Social Development: to to determine the dimensions of the effects participate in the programs and actions of climate change. of the Interministerial Commission on Mexican Institute of Water Technol- Climate Change. ogy: to participate in research and tech- World Meteorological Organization: nological development in the field of to support actions related to knowledge climate change and in human resource and transfer of information regarding education and training in this topic. climate change. Research institutes: to participate in Ministry of Public Education: to research and technological development effect actions aimed at the school-age in the field of climate change and in population in order to inform them about human resource education and training climate change and its effects. in this topic. Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, National Institute of Ecology: to take Rural Development, Fishing, and Food: advantage of assessment studies on the to participate in the programs and actions effects associated with climate change on of the Interministerial Commission on variables of the hydrological cycle in order Climate Change. to evaluate its effects on biodiversity. Ministry of Communications and Ministry of the Environment and Transportation: to participate in the pro- Natural Resources: to coordinate the programs and actions of the Interministerial grams and actions of the Interministerial Commission on Climate Change. Commission on Climate Change; to give Federal Electricity Commission: to impetus to the preparation of assessment take part in the preparation of studies to studies concerning the effects associated assess the effects associated with climate with climate change on the variables of change, providing climatological, hydro- the hydrological cycle; to coordinate the metric, and storage data.

107 Universities and Other Educational Ministry of the Economy: to partici- Institutions: to provide technical train- pate in the programs and actions of the ing in the area of climate change to the Interministerial Commission on Climate institutions and organizations involved in Change. water management in our country. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: to participate in the programs and actions of the Interministerial Commission on Climate Change.

108 OBJECTIVE 8. To create a culture for paying duties and complying with the Law on National Waters in its administrative aspects

Water authorities face the challenge of To meet the need to achieve water managing and conserving national waters sustainability, the Law on National Waters in order to achieve sustainable use of this establishes the normative and regula- resource with joint responsibility among tory instruments that the National Water the three tiers of government and society Commission has at its disposal for draft- as a whole. Undoubtedly, care and pres- ing, implementing, and assessing national ervation of our country’s river basins and water policy; managing and conducting aquifers are fundamental for ensuring its surveillance of national waters; issuing economic and social development. titles of concession, extensions of time This challenge takes on even greater limits, and transfers; and also verifying relevance if we consider the growing prob- compliance with all applicable legal pro- lems that have led to a deterioration of visions. Thus, users of national waters water in both quantity and quality: overex- operate within a framework of clearly ploitation in regions where this resource is defined rights and obligations. scarce, pollution of supply sources, illegal One of the most important sources of settlement of zones that are at high risk funding for strengthening the water sector for the population, as well as an increas- and ensuring its future evolution and water ing demand for water for different uses, sustainability are the monies collected for which reason there are social conflicts in the form of federal duties for the use, over greater access to water. exploitation or usufruct of national waters,

109 as well as for wastewater discharges and ent public goods of national waters. All of inherent public goods. For this reason, it this should be done creating awareness has now become extremely important to that water is a strategic asset on which implement and develop a “Contributory national security depends, that it can be Culture” among the members of society used up, and that caring for it should be that reinforces in citizens an awareness of aimed at its conservation and perdurabil- the economic, political, and social values ity for future generations, in both quantity of water as a strategic element for this and quality. nation’s development. This policy calls for immediate attention There is no doubt that as a natural on the part of water authorities, making resource, water is fundamental to the it possible to reestablish an appropriate growth of all our productive sectors, that balance between collection of monies it has an economic value due to its use and the real cost of managing and sup- and according to social needs, and that it plying water for its different uses, as well is managed by the State, which through as to make its utilization more efficient legal and administrative means grants and conserve it. concessions for its use and exploitation One of the key elements for manag- to private parties. ing water is measuring the volumes with- The legal framework for federal water drawn by those with concessions. By duties currently must be in keeping with implementing modern systems for meas- the social demand. Therefore, it is nec- urements and for transmitting data at a essary to consolidate a culture among distance in order to collect information the population for meeting their fiscal on the volumes withdrawn by the major obligations, among them the payment holders of concessions of national waters, of federal water duties and fees for dis- we will be able to monitor and assess the charging wastewater and for using inher- behavior of river basins and aquifers in a continuous and accurate way, in real time and, when necessary, orient the actions of water authorities and apply the Law on National Waters in the case of those users who utilize national waters in an irregular fashion, especially those who use volumes of water greater than the volumes granted in concession, those who lack a title of concession or those who fail to comply with their fiscal obligations. Inspection and verification visits, as well as the sanctions imposed as a result of those visits, are the National Water

110 Commission’s principal instruments for achieving order and control so as to ensure that users of national waters and their inherent public goods comply with the provisions set forth in the Law on National Waters, its Regulations, and all other applicable legal provisions. The present status of water resources in Mexico calls for actions making it possible to preserve the quantity and quality of national waters and their inherent public goods. For that reason, during the present administration, we plan to conduct inspection visits of users of national waters, focusing our attention on specific problems, such as overexploited aquifers, geared towards reducing the overexploi- polluted water bodies, extraction of stone tation of aquifers. materials, and the occupation or invasion Concessions of national waters are of federal zones in places that represent one of the most effective tools for water a risk for the population, for the safety of management because they are a basic their property, and for vital ecosystems. instrument for allocating this resource The application of the Law on National and can only be granted when water is Waters to users who infringe it strengthens available. Nevertheless, the effectiveness the presence of water authorities, since of this instrument has decreased con- this not only corrects irregularities that siderably due to a lack of attention and have been identified, but also serves as an timely response to requests for conces- example for all other users, and that helps sions submitted by users. create a culture favoring compliance. So as to improve attention in the pro- Another tool that helps us gain knowl- cedures and services offered to the citi- edge of the overexploitation of priority zenry, the National Water Commission aquifers is census taking for the purpose has proposed to establish a user-centered of updating official lists of users of national strategy within a setting involving trans- waters. These censuses permit us to cor- parency and continuous improvement. roborate the information contained in To that effect, the federal government has titles of concession and are useful in implemented a new concept of service detecting clandestine or irregular users, to citizens: the Letter of Commitment as well as identifying concessions that are to Citizens, which is a public document not being used. This information will be that is easy to understand, simple, and extremely important for orienting actions straightforward and provides the infor-

111 mation needed to effect procedures or set up with staff trained in fiscal matters, request a service. The aim of this letter is in order to expedite and facilitate timely to guarantee that citizens can effect pro- compliance with fiscal obligations. This cedures easily, surely, and expeditiously will lead to an increase in revenues from in a setting of transparency. federal water duties and will benefit the While partial progress has been made water sector. up to now in the application of this tool, in The titles of concession that have the 2007-2012 period the National Water been authorized throughout Mexico are Commission will implement, on a national recorded in the Public Registry of Water level, Letters of Commitment to Citizens Rights (REPDA). This is done for the for all procedures and applications in the purpose of affording legal security to users realm of water management. Along with of national waters and inherent goods this commitment, we are planning to through timely, reliable registration of their develop and operate a follow-up system titles of concession. that will allow for precise control over the At present, the information contained status of applications pending. This infor- in the REPDA is available on the Internet, mation will be made available to users in and therefore any individual may consult real time so that they may be sure about –free of charge– this information on the the current status of their application. rights over national waters, discharges, In addition, other actions will be taken federal zones, and extraction of materials with a view to improving the quality of that have been registered. In this sense, the services rendered, such as simplifi- so as to strengthen the transparency cation of procedures, standardization of of this information, during the current processes for attending to users through- administration we are planning to install out the country, the creation of bases for an interactive system as a complement to implementing electronic procedures and consultations by providing geographical applications, the establishment of Inte- locations for the titles of concession that gral Service Centers, and efforts to correct have been registered. administrative backlog in the area of pro- Following, we present the strategies, cedures and applications that now affects goals, and challenges to be met for the the country. objective “To create a culture for paying We should mention the annual super- duties and complying with the Law on visory program for auditing payment of National Waters in its administrative duties, which involves in-office fiscal revi- aspects,” as well as a description of the sions. There is also a program of assis- principal institutions and organizations tance to payers of duties for the use, that play a role in achieving this objective. exploitation or usufruct of national waters and their inherent public goods. For these two programs, Integral Service Centers are

112 OBJECTIVE 8:

To create a culture for paying duties and complying with the Law on National Waters in its administrative aspects

STRATEGY 1: To establish mechanisms for effecting the measurement of national waters. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Volume of national waters granted in concessions that is 8.1.1 100 0 80 80 measured (%)

STRATEGY2: To periodically update official lists of users of and payers of duties for national waters. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Priority aquifers with up-to-date 8.2.1 censuses on utilization of their 104 5 50 55 waters Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period To increase the number of 8.2.2 65,000 40,875 17,775 58,650 payers of duties

STRATEGY 3: To revise revenue schemes involving national waters and, in particular, wastewater discharges, in order to contribute to the good condition of river basins and aquifers (including forest, soil, and water conservation). Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Annual amount collected Value not 8.3.1 through payment of water duties 8,133 58,000 Does not apply determined (in millions of 2006 pesos) Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Agricultural users to whom collection incentives and 8.3.2 100 0 50 50 schemes have been applied (%)

113 Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Users of water bodies receiving discharges to whom have been applied collection incentives 8.3.3 and schemes that promote 100 0 45 45 wastewater treatment and reuse (%)

STRATEGY 4: To strengthen the application of the control mechanisms set down in the Law on National Waters and to supervise proper utilization of allotments and concessions of national waters and permits for wastewater discharges so as to foster appropriate water management and conservation.

Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Inspection visits to users of 8.4.1 national waters and their 432,800 2,949 20,600 Does not apply inherent goods Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Users verified with regard to 8.4.2 administrative procedures 100 - - - 100 100 (%) Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Implementation and execution of legal measures against users that utilize groundwaters 8.4.3 without a concession or that 100 Does not apply 100 100 discharge wastewater to surface water bodies without a permit (%)

STRATEGY 5: To increase fiscal and administrative presence among payers of duties for national waters and their inherent public goods through home visits, aside from the in-office fiscal revisions that are conducted. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Fiscal audits effected on persons who fail to pay duties or who are in arrears with 8.5.1 100 - - - 100 100 their payments, including fiscal revisions and home visits (%)

114 STRATEGY 6: To create mechanisms and tools for providing advice and assistance to payers of duties for national waters and their inherent public goods. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Single points of contact or Integral Service Centers in 8.6.1 33 0 33 33 which fiscal assistance is provided to payers of duties Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period To see to it that by the year 2012, a total of 100% of the applications for concessions within the sphere of competence of the Deputy Director General’s Office for 8.6.2 Water Management of the 100 Does not apply 100 100 National Water Commission are resolved in the time periods set down by the Law on National Waters, in a context of transparency and quality in service throughout the country

STRATEGY 7: To achieve adequate coordination among the institutions involved in the fiscal obligations of payers of duties. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Number of coordination agreements signed with the Tax Administration Service (SAT), 8.7.1 3 0 3 3 Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), and National Housing Fund (INFONAVIT)

STRATEGY 8: To promote campaigns for improving compliance with fiscal and administrative obligations by users of and payers of duties for national waters. Goal in the Universe or Cumulative goal Indicator Value in 2006 2007-2012 ideal goal to the year 2012 period Dissemination campaigns to 8.8.1 improve compliance with fiscal 7 2 5 7 and administrative obligations

115 Major challenges associated with the objective that should be met

• To build awareness among users of national waters concerning the importance of complying with their fiscal and administrative obligations. • To verify proper compliance with the Law on National Waters by users of national waters. • To design and implement fiscal incentives and collection systems that favor efficient water use and conservation in the country’s different river basins. • To create a contributory platform that supports the development of the water sector. • To keep up-to-date information on users of national waters.

Principal institutions and organizations that play a role in achieving the objective

National Water Commission: to attend trative measures as a result of the inspec- to the applications and other procedures tion visits and fiscal revisions that are that are requested or submitted by users conducted; to provide fiscal assistance to for the withdrawal of national waters, dis- payers of duties and to establish with dif- charges to receiving water bodies that are ferent entities agreements that promote national property, the extraction of stone compliance with fiscal obligations on the materials, and the occupation of federal part of users of national waters. zones; to verify that users of national Agricultural users: to comply with waters comply with what is stipulated in what is stipulated in the titles they have their titles and permits; to keep up-to-date been granted for the use of national official lists of users of national waters; to waters. take the appropriate legal and adminis- Ministry of Finance and Public Credit: to support the design and implementation of fiscal mechanisms and instruments that foster the development of the water sector; to participate in the design and implementation of strategies that promote compliance with fiscal obligations on the part of users of national waters. Industrial Sector: to comply with their fiscal obligations as users of national waters and with what is stipulated in the titles and permits that have been granted to them for the use of national waters,

116 the use of receiving water bodies that are to them for the use of national waters, national property, the extraction of stone the use of receiving water bodies that are materials or the occupation of federal national property, the extraction of stone zones. materials or the occupation of federal Municipalities and Drinking Water zones. and Sewerage Utilities: to comply with The media: to support the execution their fiscal obligations as users of national of campaigns helping to build awareness waters and with what is stipulated in the among users of national waters of the titles and permits that have been granted need and importance of complying with to them for the use of national waters, their fiscal obligations. the use of receiving water bodies that are Ministry of the Interior: to approve national property, the extraction of stone campaigns for promoting a culture of materials or the occupation of federal paying duties and complying with the zones. Law on National Waters in its administra- Other users of national waters and tive aspects. their inherent goods: to comply with Water Advisory Council: to support their fiscal obligations as users of national the execution of campaigns helping to waters and with what is stipulated in the build awareness among users of national titles and permits that have been granted waters of the need and importance of to them for the use of national waters, complying with their fiscal obligations. the use of receiving water bodies that are River Basin Councils and Technical national property, the extraction of stone Groundwater Committees: to support materials or the occupation of federal compliance with fiscal and administra- zones. tive obligations on the part of users of Governments of the States: to national waters that withdraw water from comply with their fiscal obligations as surface sources and aquifers. users of national waters; to effect the pay- Industrial and commerce chambers: ments they should make for utilization of to support compliance with fiscal and national waters. administrative obligations on the part of Tax Administration Service (SAT): users of national waters that withdraw to provide advice to payers of duties water from aquifers. for national waters and to effect actions National Congress: to support the related to collection of fiscal payments. design of and to approve fiscal modifi- Federal Electricity Commission, cations geared to promoting the devel- Petroleos Mexicanos, and other major opment of the water sector, as well as payers of duties: to comply with their compliance with fiscal obligations on the fiscal obligations as users of national part of users of national waters. waters and with what is stipulated in the titles and permits that have been granted

117

Chapter 4

Research, technological development, and human resource training in the water sector

Research, technological development, and to organize and take better advantage human resource training are key elements of institutional capacities of research for achieving the goals set in the National and technological development centers Water Program. at universities and also those of private To that effect, the activities of the insti- companies, so as to produce and apply tutions and organizations involved in knowledge enabling us to face and solve this work should have a much stronger water-related problems in Mexico. influence upon capacity building and We also need to consider that we have contribute solutions to promote sustain- not taken full advantage of the scientific able development in Mexico, always and technological production of institu- bearing in mind an improvement of the tions and research centers linked to this quality of life of our citizens, especially sector in order to promote technological the most marginalized groups. progress, competitiveness, and organiza- Although significant progress has been tional development. made in strengthening the role of science and technology in the country’s sustain- The major problems able development, such as the recent The most relevant problems are as modification of the Law on Science and follows: Technology, in the water sector we need • We lack a structure that would allow

119 us to coordinate, in an integrated • We need to have a comprehensive, way, the efforts made by the organi- reliable diagnosis permitting us to zations devoted to these tasks. ascertain more clearly which areas • Capacity and infrastructure for of knowledge and what specific research, technological develop- technologies research, technological ment, and human resource training development, and human resource are highly centralized. training should concentrate on. • Investment in science and tech- • Dissemination of knowledge and nology is insufficient, and that makes technology transfer have been insuf- it difficult to establish and maintain ficient and, in addition, little attention medium- and long-term programs is paid to technologies and knowl- and actions and, at the same time, edge produced at the local level; places our country at a disadvantage, they could offer creative solutions leading to marked dependence in and, above all, appropriate ones, terms of knowledge and technology. for solving many of our problems, • This sector has suffered a rapid loss especially in rural and indigenous of its intellectual capital, which is communities. heightened by the lack of a policy that motivates the creation of cadres Challenges of young researchers; we should Along these lines, the main challenges to mention that for more than twenty be met are: years, the staff at research and tech- • To create the capacity necessary nological development centers has to apply integrated approaches to not increased. problem-solving. • To achieve greater collaboration and synergy among research and technological development institutions. • To ensure greater impact and appro- priation in the water sector of research and technological development findings. • To increase investments in research and technological development. • To increase the number of qualified human resources in research and technological development. • To conduct education and training of specialized technical staff for this sector.

120 • To compile, complete, and disseminate information in the water sector, which is currently incomplete, scattered, and hard to access.

Strategies The major strategies for addressing the challenges identified in the realm of research and technological development are as follows: 1. To seek to align all activities involving research, technological development, and human resource training with the objectives of the National Water Program. 2. To see to it that when preparing plans, and human resource training that will programs, and projects for research have multiple impacts. and technological development and 7. To privilege the application of technology for the water sector, the cross-disciplinary and integrated priorities of the country’s different approaches in research, techno- regions are taken into account. logical development, and human 3. To encourage broad participation resource training in the water sector. at the regional and local levels and 8. To see to it that when proposing ensure that the opinions of different solutions, a proper combination of sectors are considered in the prepara- traditional, technological, and scien- tion of plans, programs, and projects tific knowledge is applied. for research, technological develop- 9. To privilege the transfer of simple, ment, and human resource training inexpensive, and accessible technolo- for the water sector. gies, bearing in mind that the success 4. To increase investments in science of such transfers will depend on and technology for the water sector whether mutual benefits are reaped so they represent 1% of the gross for those involved. domestic product. 10. To promote the establishment of 5. To promote decentralization of scien- programs and projects focused on the tific and technological activities and adaptation and in situ demonstration coordinate the efforts of institutions of technologies with full participation devoted to these activities. by local actors. 6. To privilege the promotion of lines of 11. To foster cross-cutting perspectives research, technological development, and inter-institutional work.

121 12. To promote the creation of infor- National Research and mation and knowledge platforms on Technological Development water. Agenda for the Water Sector 13. To further the creation and reinforce- Based on the powers that the Law on ment of research, technological devel- National Waters confers to the Mexican opment, and human resource training Institute of Water Technology (IMTA) for networks that include persons inter- heading work involving planning and ested in solving priority problems in implementation of programs and actions each region and help promote collab- for research and technological develop- oration and mutual understanding. ment, and human resource education 14. To prepare a national program for and training in the field of water and educating and updating technical staff water management, the IMTA, in collab- specialized in water management. oration with the National Water Commis- sion, held a virtual forum and also two workshops with expert researchers and academics in this sector, both people from the institute itself and from other institutions devoted to research and technological development, for the purpose of revising and defining the contributions that science and technology can make to achieving the objectives of the National Water Program 2007-2012. As part of the work carried out to define a National Research and Techno- logical Development Agenda to support the objectives of the National Water Program, a review was also conducted of the findings obtained from other participatory endeavors such as the University Water Encounter organized by the National Autonomous University of Mexico and several different documents related to this sector’s scientific and technological development. The lines of research and technological development that have been considered to be highly relevant for each objective are as follows:

122 Objective 1. To improve water • Development of new techniques for productivity in the agricultural sector domestic wastewater treatment. • Development and implementation of • Improvement of devices ensuring effi- information systems on water availability, cient water use in homes. use, and utilization. • Development of technology for • Methodologies to determine water’s collecting and transporting rainwater in economic value by regions and by river cities to aquifer recharge areas. basins. • Design of new water-saving indus- • Development of crop patterns suited trial processes. to water availability conditions in each river basin. Objective 3. To promote integrated, • Development of irrigation systems sustainable water management in that have high plot-level efficiencies. river basins and aquifers • Design and development of waste- • Preparation of water balances and water treatment systems for reuse in agri- availability studies for surface water and culture. groundwater. • Technological improvement and • Implementation of integrated models adaptation of technologies for controlled at the level of river basins to control pollu- and precision farming. tion of water bodies. • Design of new devices for measuring • Development of geographic informa- and supervising water distribution in irri- tion systems in river basins and aquifers. gation. • Development of aquifer stabilization techniques. Objective 2. To increase access • Regulation of exploitation and protec- to and quality of drinking water, tion of aquifers and river basins. sewerage, and sanitation services • Development of simulation and opti- • Methodologies, techniques, equip- mization models for establishing optimal ment, and devices for strengthening and water allocation policies. increasing the overall efficiency of drinking • Preparation of water programs for water and sanitation services. river basins and aquifers that follow an • Development, adaptation, and transfer integrated water management approach. of appropriate technologies for supplying, • Definition and regulation of calcula- storing, purifying, utilizing, and ensuring tions of ecological reserve flows in rivers. integrated treatment of water in marginal- • Methodologies and instruments for ized areas. improving communication and promoting • Development and adaptation of plants social participation. and pumping equipment that are inexpen- • Design of novel financing schemes. sive and consume a minimum amount of • Improvement and development of energy. new regulatory instruments.

123 Objective 4. To enhance the • Design and implementation of technical, administrative, and national and regional strategies for long- financial development of the term communication so that water is water sector considered a strategic resource necessary • Design of funding mechanisms and for national security and to build aware- financial schemes based on the concepts ness among the population on the need of the value and price of water, with to pay for water and to use it responsibly the corresponding development of legal and efficiently. instruments in order to make their appli- • Definition and implementation of cation mandatory. the strategy for including knowledge • Reinforcement and widening of about and analyses concerning water specialization and graduate programs in in preschool, elementary, and lower water sciences and technologies. secondary curricula. • Design of reforms to laws that facili- • Promotion of research on water tate compliance by users and promote governance at the national and regional regional decentralization and a strength- levels. ening of river basins. • Development of participatory plan- • Data banks for the continuous collec- ning methods and mechanisms to support tion and recording of information. decision-making.

Objective 5. To consolidate the Objective 6. To prevent risks participation of users and organized related to meteorological and society in water management and hydrometeorological events and to promote a culture for the proper attend to their effects use of this resource • Development of integrated systems • Assessment and development of for hydrometeorological forecasting. mechanisms for strengthening the opera- • Development of integrated flood tion of water advisory councils. control systems.

124 • Study of slope instability. • Implementation of formal educa- • Design of protection works with an tional programs on climate change at all integrated river basin approach. educational levels. • Evaluation and design of networks • Development and application of for climatic, meteorological, and hydro- measures for adapting to climate change metric measurements. in water resources management at the • Development of criteria and methods level of river basins. for completing the records of the measurement networks. Objective 8. To create a culture for paying duties and complying with Objective 7. To assess the the Law on National Waters in its effects of climate change on the administrative aspects hydrological cycle • Analysis and assessment of the • Training of human resources special- impact of collecting duties for water for ized in the topic of climate change within use in agriculture. the water sector. • Design of a Public Registry of Water • Development of interdisciplinary Duties that provides reliable information groups to assess the effects of climate on real-time conditions of utilization of change on water resources. water. • Development, implementation, and • Proposal and development of incen- adaptation of climate change indicators. tive schemes for reducing pollutant • Development of climate change discharges, reinforcing penal and punitive scenarios at the level of river basins. actions against those who pollute. • Implementation of information systems • Analysis and design of regulatory, on climate change that are accessible both command, and control instruments for to specialized persons and to the general water management and conservation. public. • Development of studies to effect

125 follow-up and permanent updating of the To fulfill this aim, we consider that it legal framework. is necessary for the federal government to allocate directly in research and tech- Coordination and necessary nological development projects 1% of resources the total amount of this National Water In accordance with what is established in Program. the Law on National Waters, the Mexican Institute of Water Technology, in conjunction with the National Water Commis- sion, will coordinate the research and technological development agenda to support the objectives of the National Water Program.

126 Chapter 5

Mexico and the international context

In the sphere of water management This outstanding event included and conservation, Mexico has played an different activities of interest such as: increasingly important role on the inter- the Keynote Speeches for each Region; national scene. That role was consoli- lectures by special guest speakers; dated in the year 2006, when our country the Thematic Sessions; the Ministerial hosted the Fourth World Water Forum, an Conference; the Children’s Forums; the extremely significant event that was held Youth Forum; the Legislators’ Forum; the for the first time on the American Conti- meetings of Local Authorities; the Water nent. Attending the Forum were some Fair; the World Water Expo; and different 27,500 persons from 168 countries. courses that were given in the Learning The Fourth World Water Forum was Center. organized by the Mexican National Water The Forum was organized on the basis Commission and the World Water Council; of two technical processes: the regional one of its salient features was that it was process and the thematic one. a space open to all voices and included For the regional process, the world was presentations on local actions and expe- divided into the following five regions: riences that clearly demonstrated how • Africa. water can be a determining factor for • The Americas. health and social well-being, while it also • Asia-Pacific. becomes a driver for economic develop- • Europe. ment and environmental conservation. • Middle East and North Africa.

127 Each region was organized in a specific 3. Water Supply and Sanitation for All. way and as part of its important work, 4. Water Management for Food and it produced a document presenting the the Environment. major water-related challenges in the 5. Risk Management. region, which makes it possible to know The Forum’s framework themes were what progress it has made in solving its analyzed from the following cross-cutting problems and provides an assessment of perspectives: future perspectives. 1. New Models for Financing Local As regards the thematic process, the Water Initiatives. following five framework themes were 2. Institutional Development and Polit- defined based on an identification of the ical Processes. major concerns of Mexico and the inter- 3. Capacity-building and Social national community, as well as a review Learning. of the contents of previous Forums and 4. Application of Science, Technology, of meetings of agencies belonging to the and Knowledge. United Nations System: 5. Targeting, Monitoring, and Imple- 1. Water for Growth and Develop- mentation Assessment. ment. For each framework theme and cross- 2. Implementing Integrated Water cutting perspective, a reference docu- Resources Management. ment was prepared with the participation of experts on the topic. Moreover, we should also point out that the 1,600 local actions and experiences registered as part of the Forum’s preparatory process have been included in the United Nations database so that they may be consulted and, when appropriate, implemented. In view of the challenges faced in the international context, as well as the work and progress made in each of the world’s regions, our country –through the National Water Commission– has proposed a series of principles in the international sphere that it has named “The Water Decalogue.” These principles are as follows:

128 1. Legislation on water and single management of this vital liquid be by river institutions responsible for its basins or watersheds. management. We should also note that adequate In order to afford certainty to water manage- water administration in river basins calls ment and conservation, it is important for for combined consideration of both surface countries to have a Law on this resource water and groundwater. and to develop the necessary technical, Moreover, to attain better water financial, and institutional elements for management and conservation in river applying it. basins shared by two or more countries, it In addition, so as to achieve more effi- is necessary to make formal agreements cient administration of surface water and that regulate water use and distribu- groundwater, it is recommended that each tion under different scenarios, including country have a single institution in charge drought scenarios. To verify implemen- of all the normative aspects associated tation, it is necessary to create multina- with water. tional technical and financial institutions that are duly recognized and endorsed by 2. Integrated river basin the countries that share river basins. management. Given the way in which the water cycle 3. Plans based on consensuses occurs in nature, it is recommended that that are mandatory for all. The preparation of river basin plans based on consensuses with users –considering ethnic, social, economic, and environmental aspects– is required for the purpose of obtaining the greatest possible benefit from surface water and groundwater, as well as guaranteeing the preservation of water and the environment for present and future generations. It is essential for the implementation of river basin plans to be mandatory by law. That way it will be possible to ensure the continuity of the actions planned and the proper channeling of investments made by users and federal, state, and municipal entities.

129 4. Water is a strategic resource on 6. Social participation and which national security depends. dissemination of information. It is indispensable for the conservation of Proper management and conservation of water, the forests, and the environment in surface water and groundwater in a river general to be considered as a basic goal basin will only be possible if all stake- on national agendas and in governments’ holders participate. To achieve this objec- development plans. That is the only way tive, the way they are organized and how the social well-being and economic devel- they participate must be guaranteed in opment of present and future generations the country’s law on water. can be guaranteed. Moreover, so that the population may become familiar with the problems 5. Hydrosolidarity. affecting its river basin, participate in To help achieve social well-being and decision-making, and evaluate the prog- consolidate economic development in ress made, it is necessary to create and a river basin or country, it is important to consolidate mechanisms and institutions implement mechanisms and incentives to provide them with clear, timely infor- allowing users with better technical and mation. financial conditions to help those who are at a disadvantage in this sense. 7. Institutionalization of programs and capacity building. In order to maximize investments in the water sector, it is necessary to institutionalize programs enabling us to combine the financial and technical resources of users, the private sector, and federal, state, and municipal entities. Similarly, it is necessary to transfer functions to the most appropriate level from the standpoint of decision-making and operativeness; this is important for ensuring better water administration. It is also important to consider that proper infrastructure functioning will be ensured if, along with the investments allocated for constructing it, monies are also allotted as needed for its proper operation and maintenance, including training of the persons that will be in charge of those activities.

130 8. Efficient water use and the possible occurrence and evolution of collection of suitable rates. cyclones and hurricanes that could affect Given scarce water availability in different them. Therefore, it is important for coun- zones, it is fundamental to use this tries to have Meteorological Services or, resource efficiently and, to the extent when appropriate, to establish agree- possible, reuse it in different productive ments with specialized organizations. activities. Similarly, so as to respond in a timely, In order to recover the costs of expeditious way to emergencies due to providing water and sanitation services, the occurrence of cyclones and hurri- it is necessary to implement adequate canes, it is advisable for countries to systems for both rates and collection have suitable equipment and machinery which may even allow for the granting of located in strategic sites. subsidies to inhabitants who have insuf- Finally, it is important to note that ficient funds to pay for these services. Mexico will maintain its presence in the major events on the international agenda 9. Technification of irrigation and in order to continue to demonstrate its crop selection based on water leadership and approach regarding water availability. and to gain greater knowledge about To promote agricultural development, the proposals and progress being made the modernization of irrigation is espe- in different countries; this will make it cially relevant because it makes it possible possible to move forwards and imple- to increase productivity and reduce the ment such solutions, considering our consumption of water in irrigation. particular context as a country. Moreover, the development of agricul- Lastly, we should stress that in order tural irrigation should be based on water to make each of this Program’s goals availability and soil suitability, for this will a reality, it is essential to achieve coor- make it possible to guarantee the preser- dinated, harmonious work among the vation of the soil-water binomial. institutions and organizations involved in water management and conservation 10. Climate change and its effects in our country and, in a broader context, on the water cycle. among society as a whole. In the face of the possible effects brought This endeavor is well worth the effort about by natural disasters, it is necessary because it will translate into better living to strengthen early warning systems and conditions for our inhabitants, favor schemes, construct complementary infra- economic development, and guarantee structure as required for disaster control, environmental conservation for the and create flood zones in specific areas benefit of present and future genera- designed for that purpose. tions. Inhabitants must be informed about

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This book was printed in June, 2008 at the Talleres Gráficos de México Av. Canal del Norte No. 80, Col. Felipe Pescador, C.P. 06280 México, D.F. This edition is comprised of 5 000 copies.