CONAGUA Pours Efforts in Water Distribution, Drainage Desilting

The National Water Commission (CONAGUA) has been working in numerous regions in Mexico to comply with a complex water demand since the beginning of 2023, as the commission continues to work in collaboration with numerous states that are facing water shortages. 

CONAGUA responded to support requests from Coahuila, Guanajuato, Jalisco, San Luis Potosi, Sonora, Jalisco and Queretaro, among other states, via its Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Attention Brigades (PIAE). The commission aims to maintain water services for the population while improving drainage systems, explained CONAGUA via a press release. 

In Queretaro, brigades attached to CONAGUA’s General Sub-directorate of Hydro-agricultural Infrastructure provided support for agricultural irrigation. The operation began on Feb. 10 at Irrigation District 023, San Juan del Rio. To date, over 990,500m³ of water have been used to irrigate 318 hectares. Droughts in Queretaro have also forced CONAGUA to pump water to provide agricultural irrigation. 

CONAGUA also provided drinking water supplies through tank cars on Feb. 20 in El Salto, Jalisco. This operation delivered 1.6 million liters of water to the population, benefitting over 6,800 inhabitants. 

The commission undertook several actions in San Luis Potosi. In January 2023, CONAGUA provided drinking water to the ISSSTE General Hospital and various neighborhoods in the state capital, distributing over 2.2 million liters to 47,500 people. In Ahualulco, on March 8, CONAGUA distributed 210,000 liters to over 1,000 inhabitants. Finally, in the municipality of Zaragoza, 1.48 million liters were supplied for 8,600 beneficiaries.

The water supply has also been carried out in Guaymas, Sonora. Starting on January 2, approximately 1.4 million liters have been delivered to benefit an estimated 2,100 inhabitants.

Drainage infrastructure cleaning and desilting operations seek to secure the adequate operation of drainage systems. CONAGUA highlighted that works have been carried out in collaboration with states and municipalities in seven ongoing operations.