The government of Mexico plans to invest 122 billion 600 million pesos in water projects during the 2024-2030 term. These funds will be used to strengthen the supply and management of water in the country, authorities reported this Wednesday.
Efraín Morales, director of the National Water Commission (Conagua), detailed that the Water Infrastructure Plan will be organized into two branches. One will consist of 17 strategic projects selected in areas with water scarcity, while the other will be based on a 'Master Plan' that will adjust to municipal needs nationwide.
During the government's morning conference, Morales explained that this year alone, 15 billion pesos will be allocated to projects that will benefit approximately 36 million people. These projects include the Rosarito desalination plant in Baja California, the Novillo dam in Baja California Sur, the El Tunal 2 dam in Durango, and the construction of the Milpillas dam in Zacatecas.
Another important project is in the Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico, which aims to supply water to Mexico City, the State of Mexico, and Hidalgo, with an investment of 50 billion pesos over the term. Additionally, projects will be executed in southern states such as Guerrero, Oaxaca, Campeche, Tabasco, and Veracruz.
These initiatives respond to the water crisis that played a central role in the electoral campaigns last June. Environmentalists warned about the imminent arrival of 'day zero' in the Mexican capital, a moment when water supply for human consumption could not be guaranteed. In May, with dozens of heat records broken in the country, more than two-thirds of its territory faced some level of drought, according to Conagua, which now reports that the affected area is around 45%.
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, emphasized that these projects are part of the agricultural irrigation modernization program, which will allow for the release of irrigation water for human consumption.
