Water Resources Management at the Mexican Borders

Abstract

An analysis of the main water-related issues at the Mexican borders is presented, including the border with the United States, Belize, and Guatemala. International Treaties are described and the hydrological conditions at the regions covered by such treaties are analyzed, including droughts and water quality as well as other issues pertaining to water management, such as population, climate, and hydraulic infrastructure. Conjunctive water management between Mexico and the United States has a long and exemplary history. The border is more than 3,000 km long and is one of the busiest bi-national borders in the world, with a population increase index well above that of any of the two countries. This relationship started formally about a century ago with the signature of a Treaty in 1906 and has continued until the present time. As most relationships among neighboring countries, this one has not always been exempt from controversy and differences in opinions, but these divergences have always been solved with good will and taking both countries' interests into consideration. Problems related both with water quantity and quality have been present in the Mexico-USA relationship as well as, more recently, issues dealing with ecology conservation. Due to the greater activity at the border between the United States and Mexico, this region is more deeply described, but hydrologic problems and characteristics of the borders with Guatemala and Belize are also addressed.