Mexico Struggles to Meet Water Delivery Deadline

On Oct. 24, Mexico is expected to deliver 2.158 billion m3 of water to the United States under the 1944 binational water treaty. As of Oct. 1, the country had only sent 46.4% of the required volume, leaving more than half still pending just three weeks before the end of the current five-year cycle. While the treaty allows for extensions, failure to meet the obligation is likely to reignite tensions with the United States.

Experts note that prolonged droughts, climate change, and the rigidity of the treaty have complicated compliance. Although Mexico has accepted reduced inflows from the United States, there is no agreement requiring Texan farmers to lower their water use, nor has Mexico been able to secure reductions in the volumes it must deliver each cycle. The main challenge is to reduce demand on both sides of the border to ensure sustainability. 

The treaty has historically managed the use of waters from the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande (Bravo) basins, but it does not fully address the pressures created by increasing urban and agricultural demand and ongoing drought conditions.

The Rio Grande-Bravo basin, which serves as the border between Texas and northern Mexican states, is particularly stressed. Measures such as using alternative water sources in Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon have been implemented, yet shortages persist. Past cycles have also seen Mexico fall behind in deliveries, and experts argue that long-term solutions must involve stronger conservation measures, more efficient water management, and international cooperation to reduce consumption rather than simply adjusting delivery volumes.