Under the Sheinbaum administration, there is a concentrated effort to categorize water as a strategic national security asset.
Water is the fundamental source of all life. Without it, there is no life, no economy, and no agriculture. Given the looming climate crisis, water supplies worldwide are facing unprecedented strain. In fact, it is increasingly likely that water will become a prized commodity, leading to intense competition or water wars between nation-states. Mexico is not exempt from this reality.
Currently, data from CONAGUA, the National Committee of Water, highlights the distribution of water usage in the Republic: approximately 76% is used for agriculture, 14% for public supply for drinking and hygiene, 4% for self-supplied industry, and 4% for hydroelectricity. Several geographic and climatic factors complicate this supply. A substantial portion of Mexico, about two-thirds of the country, is arid or semi-arid, situated at a latitude similar to that of the Sahara Desert, resulting in an average annual rainfall of only 500 mm. Furthermore, as Mexico has transitioned from a rural to an urban society, cities have been forced to extract water from greater depths or transport it over longer distances. A unique challenge is that approximately 52% of the population lives at elevations above 1,500 meters above sea level, necessitating significant energy and infrastructure investments to transport water to these altitudes. Finally, because greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, droughts and cyclones have become increasingly powerful. A recent example is Hurricane Otis, which struck Acapulco, Guerrero, intensifying from a category two to a category five storm in a matter of hours. The city near the coast had no time to prepare.
Over the last 30 years, the politics of water in Mexico have shifted drastically under the influence of the neoliberal era. During the 1990s, water management shifted from centralized control to a decentralized municipal system, effectively treating water as a commodity rather than a fundamental human right. While this transition helped increase piped water access in urban centers from 88% to 93% and in rural areas from 50% to 74%, it often came at the cost of water quality and the degradation of public infrastructure. Today, agricultural irrigation remains the largest consumer of water, heavily skewed toward high-value exports like avocados and blueberries. Water comes primarily from two sources: surface water (such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) and groundwater, which accounts for 40 percent of total consumption. The climate crisis is exacerbating the strain on these sources; prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall are reducing replenishment rates, while poor infrastructure leads to significant losses. Approximately 40 percent of water transported through these systems is lost to leaks and evaporation. Given this legacy, the state of water and its management in Mexico remains precarious and urgently needs proper investment and oversight.
Under the Sheinbaum administration, there is a concentrated effort to categorize water as a strategic national security asset. On October 1, 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum submitted a proposal to enact a new Ley General de Aguas (General Water Law) and to reform the existing Ley de Aguas Nacionales (National Waters Law). Key elements of this proposal include stricter reviews of water concessions, a prohibition on the transfer of these concessions, and the creation of a Registro Nacional de Agua (National Water Registry) to prevent water hoarding and illegal use. Beyond regulatory shifts, the government is prioritizing infrastructure investment, specifically targeting leakage reduction in municipal pipes.
Furthermore, many cities already employ rationing measures, and Mexico City actively promotes Cosecha de Lluvia (rainwater harvesting). The government is also advocating the adoption of riego por goteo y microaspersión (drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation) systems, which can reduce agricultural water use by up to 60 percent. While these strategies address multiple facets of the climate crisis, the most significant impact will likely come from modernizing Mexico’s primary water consumer: the agricultural sector. Through better infrastructure and improved irrigation technology, the state can move towards more sustainable, long-term water management.
This post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Mexico Country Manager, Miguel Martinez Jr.
Learn More Resources
- https://sinav30.conagua.gob.mx:8080/Descargas/pdf/EAM2023_f.pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277241152500076X
- https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/new-water-legislation-creates-risks-investments-mexico#:~:text=These%20reforms%20aim%20to%20reshape,as%20a%20strategic%20national%20resource.
- https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/10/nightmare-scenario-category-5-hurricane-otis-devastates-acapulco/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Mexico#:~:text=Water%20supply%20and%20sanitation%20in%20Mexico%20is%20characterized%20by%20achievements,%25)%20between%201990%20and%202010.