National Water Program 2007-2012
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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 strat- egies 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.