Integrated Water Resources Management As A
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Managing water differently: Integrated Water Resources Management as a framework for adaptation to climate change in Mexico White Paper for the Environmental Working Group of the UC-Mexico Initiative J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida 1, S. Sandoval-Solis 1, Jesús Arellano González1, Josué Medellín-Azuara1, J. Edward Taylor1 1. University of California, Davis 1111 FRANKLIN STREET, OAKLAND, CA 94607-5200; 900 UNIVERSITY AVE, RIVERSIDE, CA 92521 TEL: 951.827.4558; EMAIL: [email protected]; WEBPAGE: UCMEXICOINITIATIVE.UCR.EDU Table of Contents I. Abstract ................................................................ 2 II. Introduction .......................................................... 2 III. human welfare implications ................................... 6 IV. binational context ................................................. 7 V. Theoretical framework ........................................... 7 VI. Policy responses and challenges ............................. 9 VII. Scientific/historical background: What do we know? 9 VIII. Unanswered questions, research void .................... 12 IX. Thinking ahead: Priorities for future binational research and training initiatives ............................. 12 X. Bibliography......................................................... 14 Abstract Climate change is expected to impact water availability and its management, with more frequent and extended droughts, more severe floods, and lower water quality. Water allocation policies, regulations and infrastructure in Mexico were not designed for changing future climate conditions. This document reviews the implications of climate change in water resources systems in Mexico, and evaluates how management strategies from California can serve as potential adaptation schemes towards an Integrated Water Resources Management framework in Mexico. Introduction In Mexico, reduction on water availability as consequence of climate change not only compromises water reliability for industries and agriculture, but also augments the challenge to provide the most basic human right, drinking water. The understanding of the magnitude and extent to which human and natural systems will be affected by climate change is critical to better design policies that prepares for effective adaptation. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), rising temperatures are expected to reduce renewable surface water and groundwater resources, vital inputs for people, agriculture, industry, and aquatic and riparian ecosystems (IPCC, 2014). As a result, Mexico is expected to experience major impacts on water availability and supply, compromising food security, infrastructure, and agriculture income. In this context, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a powerful and important framework to examine adaptation to climate change. IWRM is defined as “a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems” (Global Water Partnership, 2000). In addition, changes on climate patterns are expected to increase drought years, having particular impacts on agriculture; and at the same time intensify rain events, augmenting flood risks in certain areas (Herrera-Pantoja & Hiscock, 2015). Mexico is already facing other water problem expected to aggravate as the changes on climate occur. The Water Advisory Council (CCA, 2016) using data from the National Water Commission of Mexico (CONAGUA) noted a series of facts to be considered for improving the current situation and prepare for the upcoming water issues: (1) 22.7 % of surface water is heavily contaminated; (2) national potable water and sewage coverage are 91.6% and 90.2% respectively; (3) 77% of water is used by agriculture; (4) conveyance and distribution of water have an efficiency of 86% and 76% respectively; (5) 16.2% of aquifers are under overdraft conditions; (6) about 40% of urban water is lost through system leaks; and (7) less than 50% of waste waters are treated. México has an extensive territory with varied climatic conditions where water availability does not match with water demands. The two thirds of the territory with the highest economic development (north, northwest, center Mexico) is also the area that displays the lowest mean annual precipitation (Figure 1) (CONAGUA, 2015). This spatial and temporal distribution of water resources represents different challenges for different areas. The most contrasting examples are the Baja California Peninsula which on average receives 168mm of precipitation, while in the south east, in the area of Tabasco and Chiapas, the normal precipitation is around 1,842mm. Between these extremes, there is a spatial distribution of available water resources in the country, and each particular area requires its own analysis and solutions (CONAGUA, 2015). 2 With the purpose of water management and preservation of Mexico’s water resources, CONAGUA designated 13 Hydrological-Administrative Regions (HARs) (Figure 1). HAR Code Name HAR Code Name I Península de Baja California VIII Lerma-Santiago-Pacífico II Noroeste IX Golfo Norte III Pacífico Norte X Golfo Centro IV Balsas XI Frontera Sur V Pacífico Sur XII Península de Yucatán VI Río Bravo XIII Aguas del Valle de México VII Cuencas Centrales del Norte Figure 1 Hydrologic Administrative Regions and water-stress in Mexico, adapted from (CONAGUA, 2015) The HAR with less renewable water resources (XIII) is the second most populated (as it includes Mexico City), consequently having the lowest per capita renewable water in the country ( Table 1) and is catalogued as an area of very high water stress. A situation of water stress arises when the percentage of water diversion is above 10% of the annual renewable water resources. The degree of water stress varies as this ratio increases; above 40% is considered as a high water stress, and above 100% it is catalogued as a very high water stress. Eight of the 13 HARs are at or above the high water stress classification, one on medium, two on low, and only another two are not under stress (Figure 1) (CONAGUA, 2015). Under those conditions, demands are met by excessive groundwater extractions that generates overdraft on the aquifers (more extracted water 3 than recharge). In Mexico, 15% of aquifers are overdrafted (CONAGUA, 2015). Groundwater overdraft brings complications, such as sea water intrusion in coastal zones, land subsidence, infrastructure damage, and depletion of water supply resources during drought periods. There is a big paradigm in some of the largest cities of Mexico, particularly in Mexico City. The large impermeable extent of the city makes it hard for the already overdraft aquifers to recharge. The constant land subsidence (5 to 10cm/year) due to excessive groundwater extraction reduces storage capacity and damage sewages and water supply systems (among other infrastructure). Water infrastructure is in such bad conditions that 40% of potable water is estimated to be lost before reaching its destination (De la Peña, Ducci, & Zamora, 2013). The conveyance systems for waste water are insufficient and inefficient; only about 30% of waste water from Mexico City is currently treated (60% once the Atotonilco Waste Water Treatment Plant Project is finished) (De la Peña et al., 2013). Table 1 Water availability by Hydrologic Administrative Region Per capita Normal Renewable Total mean Total mean 2015 renewable Precipitation water natural aquifer populatio HAR water from 1971 to resources surface runoff recharge n resources 2000 (mm/yr) (mcm/yr) (mcm/yr) (mcm/yr) (millions) (m3/person/yr) I 169 4,681.7 3,244.3 1,437.4 4.37 1,271.2 II 445 8,226.7 5,201.4 3,025.3 2.80 3,168.1 III 747 25,422.6 22,386.8 3,036.0 4.47 6,197.6 IV 963 24,276.1 19,665.0 4,611.8 11.69 2,251.5 V 1187 32,492.0 30,730.3 1,761.7 5.02 7,473.3 VI 438 12,796.5 7,357.7 5,438.8 12.15 1,176.7 VII 430 7,620.3 5,357.9 2,262.4 4.52 1,829.9 VIII 816 35,680.7 27,524.8 8,155.8 23.89 1,680.8 IX 914 25,562.8 23,543.4 2,019.6 5.23 5,109.3 X 1558 98,301.5 94,213.4 4,088.1 10.48 10,047.3 XI 1846 157,743.9 138,541.8 19,202.2 7.57 23,519.5 XII 1218 29,338.6 4,036.8 25,302.0 4.52 7,473.3 4 XIII 606 3,535.8 1,432.5 2,103.4 23.01 165.3 Nationa l 872 465,679.1 383,235.6 82,443.7 119.71 4,285.4 Source: Statistics on Water in Mexico reports from their first edition on 2003 to 2015 mcm = million cubic meters. Most of the consumptive water use in the country (77%) is for agriculture (CONAGUA, 2015). Therefore, changes in water supply from climate change need to have a special focus on the possible effects in agricultural systems to develop adaptation strategies. In the Pacífico Norte HAR (mainly the state of Sinaloa), agriculture is the main economic sector and represents the largest agriculture industry for Mexico. This region produces not only the breadbasket for Mexico, but also exports fruits and vegetables to the United States. This region has a high irrigation efficiency, however this is not a common patter; a large share of the irrigation systems in Mexico are still surface irrigation systems (wild flood and furrow). An important amount of water used in these surface irrigation systems does not benefit the crops; instead, it is loss due to evaporation and infiltration to aquifer recharge. Water lost in infiltration can be recovered by pumping; however, more energy is needed to recover this water. The remaining uses are urban with 14 % (domestic and municipal) and industrial with 9% (including hydropower). Urban water use requires a constant water supply throughout the year. Naturally, there is temporal water availability, resulting in a mismatch of water supply and water demand for this use. Typically, large cities, e.g. Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, meet their water demand through water imports from other basins (Cutzamala, Lerma-Chapala, and Cerro Prieto).