Within the framework of the National Water Plan and to address the areas with the greatest water shortages, the Mexican government, through the National Water Commission (Conagua), announced a historic investment of 122.6 billion pesos (MDP) - more than 5.6 billion euros - for 2025-2030, earmarked for 17 strategic water infrastructure projects in the regions with the greatest need for water and risk of flooding.
This initiative, which will benefit 36 million inhabitants across the country, aims to guarantee the human right to water, in addition to recognising it as a strategic asset of the nation, said the Director General of the Agency, Efraín Morales López, during the morning conference of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
The head of Conagua said that an initial investment of 15,000 MDP (more than 690 million euros) is planned for 2025, which will allow the start of key works, including a desalination plant, aqueducts and protection works.
‘These are the advances of the projects we have in terms of infrastructure, which are basically divided into two main areas, on the one hand, 17 strategic projects that were selected based on the regions of the country with the greatest water shortages. And on the other hand, what we have called a Master Plan, which is based on a diagnosis and the needs that exist throughout the country at the municipal level,’ explained Efraín Morales.
One of these infrastructures is the Solís-León aqueduct, which will benefit more than 1.8 million inhabitants of the Bajío area in Guanajuato, with an investment of 15 billion pesos, half of which will be provided by the state government and the rest by the federal government. The project will increase the availability of water to reduce water shortages. Construction work will begin in September
The main objective of the Mexico Valley Metropolitan Area project is to develop water supply projects in Mexico City and the states of Mexico and Hidalgo, benefiting more than 21.6 million people. It includes actions to prevent flooding and to clean up the Tula river, as well as a justice plan for the Mezquital Valley area. The total investment is 50 thousand MDP. In 2025 it will start with 4,100 MDP, coming from state and federal resources. Work will begin in September of this year.
In ten municipalities in the eastern part of the State of Mexico, 2,516 million pesos will be invested in 2025, of which 1,417 million pesos come from the Federation, which will benefit more than 6.4 million people. With these resources, Morales López explained, one hundred drinking water and sewerage projects are being developed, including the Solidaridad collector in Valle de Chalco, which will help to solve the historic problem of flooding.
In Baja California, with a six-year investment of around 12 billion pesos, the Rosarito desalination plant will be built to provide water to this municipality and Tijuana, benefiting more than 6 million inhabitants. Work will begin next November.
The other projects are:
- In Baja California Sur, the El Novillo Dam, with a total investment of 1,423 MDP, of which the initial investment is 300 MDP. The tender will be issued in July and work will begin in August. This project will benefit 250,000 inhabitants.
- In Durango, the Tunal II Dam will have a total investment of 3,985 million pesos, of which 700 million pesos will be allocated in 2025. It will be put out to tender in May and construction will begin in June. It will benefit more than 330,000 inhabitants.
- In Zacatecas, the Milpillas Dam will have a total investment of 8,900 MDP, of which 350 MDP will be allocated in 2025. It will be put out to tender in July and work will begin in August. It will benefit half a million inhabitants.
- In Colima, the Agua para Colima project will benefit 238,000 inhabitants. The total investment will be 1,780 million pesos, with an initial investment of 360 million pesos. It will be put out to tender in June and work will begin the following month.
- In Guerrero, the Acapulco se Transforma Contigo plan will benefit almost 800,000 inhabitants. The total investment will be 8,000 million pesos, with an initial investment of 1,800 million pesos. The tender will be launched in April and work will begin in May.
- In Oaxaca, the Paso Ancho dam will benefit more than 600 inhabitants. The total investment is estimated at 4,600 MDP, while the initial investment will be 700 MDP. The tender will be issued in July and work will begin in August.
- In Campeche, the Chiná Aqueduct and the aqueduct will benefit 250,000 inhabitants. The total investment will be 1,380 million pesos and the initial investment will be 300 million pesos. The tender will be issued in June and work will begin in July.
- For the flood protection works to be carried out in Tabasco, in support of 340,000 inhabitants, a total investment of 2,400 million pesos has been programmed, starting with 290 million pesos. The tender will be launched in April and the works will begin in May.
- In Veracruz, 475,000 inhabitants will benefit from the Coatzacoalcos aqueduct, whose total investment is estimated at 1,550 MDP, with an initial 350 MDP. The tender will be issued in July and work will begin in August.
- In Tamaulipas, 147,000 inhabitants will benefit from the Ciudad Victoria II aqueduct, which will receive 1,792 million pesos, with an initial investment of 230 million pesos. The tender will be launched in April and construction will begin in 2027.
- In San Luis Potosí, 69,000 inhabitants will benefit from the Las Escobas dam, whose total investment will be approximately 600 million pesos, of which 300 million pesos will be initial. The tender will be issued in July and work will begin in August.
- In Coahuila, the Healthy Water Trunk Networks for La Lagunafavorecerán more than 144,000 inhabitants, with a total investment of 1,700 MDP, and an initial investment of 1,300 MDP. The tender will be issued in April and work will begin in May.
- In Sonora, the Hermosillo Dam System will support almost 900,000 inhabitants, with a total investment of 7,500 million pesos, starting with 500 million pesos. It will be put out to tender in June and work will begin in July.
On the other hand, the head of Conagua pointed out that, in an effort to improve the planning and distribution of resources, 1,302 municipal diagnoses have been completed to draw up master plans for water infrastructure, in which strategies will be established to strengthen access to drinking water, drainage, sanitation and flood protection, through joint investments with the municipalities.
In order to promote municipal investments in the area of water, we work closely with local authorities so that, preferably, they allocate 30 % of their budget to actions in this area, through the Contribution Fund for Social Infrastructure (FAIS).
With these actions, the Government of Mexico reaffirms its commitment to the country's water security, ensuring a sustainable water supply for present and future generations.
