Mexican Water Crisis and How Israeli Tech Can Help Solve It

The vital importance of addressing water scarcity requires immediate attention. Despite its fundamental role in sustaining life, we often fail to recognize its true value as a resource. Experts warn of a looming water crisis, likening it to the oil of the 21st century in terms of its significance and potential scarcity. Yet, the gravity of this issue may not be fully grasped until it becomes a tangible threat.

The global water crisis represents a significant and widespread challenge. Although the Earth is predominantly water, a mere 2% is readily available, with half of it confined to underground aquifers. This scenario holds particular relevance for Mexico City, situated on top of extensive water sources such as rivers and lakes, facilitating relatively easy access to groundwater. However, these aquifers get filled incredibly slowly, requiring decades or centuries. Unfortunately, Mexico City has already extracted over 50% of its accessible groundwater, leading to depletion and land subsidence, threatening the city's stability.

Mexico has abundant water resources, presenting the opportunity for innovative technologies to enhance water management practices and mitigate wastage. Aging infrastructure susceptible to leaks, water-intensive agricultural, livestock practices, and industrial pollution, collectively contribute significantly to wastage. These challenges exacerbate the difficulties in ensuring sustainable and equitable water distribution for essential daily activities.

Water scarcity has become a top national priority for both the public and private sectors in Mexico, all with the same purpose: save the water that remains and face the droughts that Mexican fields are suffering. This geographically diverse challenge is most severe in the north region, where arid and semi-arid climates in states like Chihuahua and Coahuila heighten vulnerability to droughts. According to the Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad, it is not the first time that the droughts represent a significant risk of crop losses in Mexico, as in 2021, 71% of the Mexican territory suffered from severe droughts. This is particularly concerning as major agricultural states like Sinaloa and Sonora, which are located in the north and are also among the highest water consumers. 

Adding to the water scarcity challenge, climate change has precipitated a significant increase in average annual temperatures (1.2°C to 2.4°C) from 2000 to 2020. This rise in temperature directly impacts dam levels, leading to decreased water storage due to higher evaporation rates. Notably, northern states experience lower average annual rainfall (between 462 and 379 mm), with over 70% being evaporated and returned to the atmosphere, according to the data provided by the Comisión Nacional del Agua, in its 21st edition of the Situation of the Drinking Water, Sewage and Sanitation Subsector briefing. This combination of climate change, unsustainable water use practices in agriculture and infrastructure leaks results in significant losses in dam capacity, jeopardizing not only water security but also hydroelectric power generation, a critical source of energy for many sectors.

In the face of Mexico's water scarcity, innovative solutions are imperative. Mexico can find effective strategies by studying the approach of leading innovators like Israel, particularly in water management technologies. With a long history of managing water resources in arid environments, Israel has invested heavily in developing and implementing various water-saving technologies. These solutions address numerous aspects of water scarcity, from efficient irrigation practices to desalination plants. By adopting and adapting these Israeli technologies, Mexico can improve its water management practices, mitigate the vulnerability of dams, and ensure long-term water security.

One of the state companies with a great presence in the market, because of its useful and innovative solutions, and its great expertise that help it work as advisers, is Mekorot. The company embodies the unique Israeli spirit: daring, sophistication, and innovation in the face of the complex challenges of the Israeli water economy. It has established an integrated water management infrastructure that encompasses all types of water within the water economy. This system collects data in real time, enabling comprehensive command and control management of 3,000 facilities, 1,000 wells, 700 pumping stations, and 13,000km of pipelines.

Another great solution that can help Mexico's water crisis is Asterra, with technology that helps prevent pipe leaks. This company has developed an AI that observes and analyzes the efficiency of underground pipes. From this, the company provides a number of industries with intelligence and insights about the structure of their largest installations. Asterra doesn't even have to break the ground, as it uses planted algorithms and artificial intelligence to detect leaks, assess pipes and locate moisture near major installations. 

Addressing the challenge of evaporation in water-scarce regions because of dry climate, H2OLL could be a helpful solution. It is capable of extracting moisture from the air using an absorption-desorption cycle. The new technology generates year-long pure and safe drinking water supply along with constant low energy requirements through all seasons and in any geographic area and time of the day.

These technologies can be used to help keep the Mexican dams from drying out, but Israel also offers a series of alternative solutions to be used instead of dams. One great technology that helps in this scenario is OfraAqua, a global pioneer in research and implementation of nature-based technology for treating water and creating ornamental systems. It offers advanced purification systems that leverage natural purification processes to treat even highly contaminated water, exceeding the capabilities of conventional methods.

Mexico's water crisis presents a complex and multifaceted challenge requiring immediate action and innovative solutions. The situation exemplifies the critical need for effective water management strategies. Issues range from resource allocation leading to waste and contamination, the ability to renew aquifers, and the compounding effects of climate change on already-dwindling dam reserves.

Advanced solutions pioneered by countries like Israel offer a potential path forward in addressing these challenges. These technologies showcase the potential for addressing water scarcity through advanced infrastructure, AI-driven leak detection, atmospheric moisture extraction, and nature-based purification systems. By embracing and implementing such technologies, Mexico can mitigate the risk of water scarcity, safeguard its water resources, and ensure sustainable access to water for its citizens.

For further insights into the Israel water innovation ecosystem and access to international events like Watech 2024, contact our commercial office. Bridge the gap in your water management strategy and unlock new opportunities. We help organizations to integrate existing solutions seamlessly into their value chains, accelerating their journey toward sustainable water management. Contact us at the Israel commercial office to learn more.