Water Infrastructure Budget to Double in 2023

The Chamber of Deputies approved the Federal Budget for 2023 with a significant increase in the investment destined for water-related projects, which comes on the back of frequent water shortages in Mexico’s northern states.

According to the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies Committee on Water Resources, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Rubén Muñoz, the chamber approved a budget of US$1.76 billion for water infrastructure projects in 2022, but for 2023 the amount almost doubled to US$3.53 billion, the largest budget approved for water projects in Mexico’s history, which underlines the growing awareness regarding Mexico’s diminishing water reserves.

In an interview with BNAmericas, Muñoz said that most of the budget is distributed to five water projects. The federal government is to invest over US$413 million in each of the developments like the Picachos dam in Sinaloa, the Healthy Water for the Comarca Laguna projects in Durango and Coahuila, the el Cuchillo dam in Nueo Leon, as well as the El Zapotillo dam in Jalisco and the Centenario Canal in Nayarit. 

According to Muñoz, the northern states will benefit the most since they contribute 78 percent of the GDP and have the least amount of water, as evidenced by the drought in Nuevo Leon earlier this year. Muñoz said that the real challenge to solving droughts is encountered from central Mexico to the north. 

Some experts have argued that even though the increase is positive, it is not sufficient to solve Mexico’s water supply problems. Muñoz agreed: He said that even with the budget increase, Mexico has to invest another US$120 billion and admitted that the government lack funds to modernize 86 districts in the country. 

Muñoz suggested that it is necessary to start thinking about the concept of “water and food security,” arguing that it is necessary to invest in water infrastructure, but always think of food security as a priority, too.

Additionally, the government needs to solve sanitation issues. According to Muñoz, over 29.8 million Mexicans do not have access to sewer networks. Furthermore, of the 3,960 wastewater treatment plants, two-thirds do not comply with the basic treatment standard 003 established by previous administrations and are sure to not meet standard 001 issued during this administration by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). Muñoz said that the federal government needs to think of what kind of incentives it should provide to source treated wastewater to the mining and construction industries, as well as create a wastewater market.