As local weather change promotes Rising temperature And the adjustments in rainfall, Mexico and the US are within the midst of a battle over water, placing a further burden on their relationship.
Mexico has struggled to keep up a lot of the final 25 years, partly as a consequence of fixed drought, and in keeping with the 2 nations’ water sharing agreements which were in place since then. 1944 (There have been two regulated water sharing agreements because the nineteenth century).
As a part of this 1944 treaty, the 2 nations, established when water was not as uncommon as it’s now, share the flows separate from three rivers (Rio Grande, Colorado and Tijuana) ranging alongside the two,000-mile border. This course of is overseen by the Worldwide Boundary Water Fee.
Mexico should ship 430 million cubic meters of water yearly to the USA from the Rio Grande, whereas the USA should ship about 1.855 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River to assist Mexico’s border cities with Tijuana and Mexico. .
Water transport is measured over a five-year cycle, with the present one ending in October. Mexico was struggling Ship the “debt” of that water Within the remaining cycle that resulted in 2020, I fulfilled my obligations utilizing the final reservoir water. This triggered extreme water ranges to dry up in northern Mexico.
Because of the rising stress over water, Biden administration They negotiated and labored with the Mexican authorities to attempt to enhance the velocity at which Mexico’s water provide was made in 2024.
However with Donald Trump taking workplace, the US has taken a extra constructive stance with Mexico to take care of water debt to the US. In March 2025, for the primary time in additional than 50 years, the US refused to ship water from the Colorado River to Tijuana. 2 million folks – To power Mexico to ship extra water to Texas.
Mexico then responded by switch 75 million cubic meters of waternonetheless, that is only a drop within the bucket, as Mexico stays in debt of 1.5 billion cubic meters. And this has finished little to fulfill the Trump administration, which threatened to withhold extra water from Mexico. It additionally requested Resignation Maria Elena Zinner, who headed the Worldwide Boundary Water Fee in April.
Moderately than seeing a diplomatic answer, Trump accused Mexico of stealing Texans water and promised to maintain it Escalation of the outcomes If it’s not delivered underneath the phrases of the treaty.
For farmers in Texas, water shortages have made them unable to plant their crops. One yr in the past, final Sugar Mill In southern Texas, Mexico was closed as a consequence of no water provide.
Nevertheless, Mexican farmers consider that the contract is simply certain if Mexico has sufficient water to satisfy its personal wants, that means that in drought circumstances it can’t ship excessively obtainable water. Mexico’s continued drought circumstances plague northern farmers, who additionally depend on water for his or her crops. The decline in rainfall lately has led to Mexico affected by water provide
There is no such thing as a operating water
In recent times, droughts have had a very influence on the town of Monterrey in northern Mexico. In 2022, TAPS was dry for a lot of of its 5 million residents for months with out water passing by way of. Washing bathrooms, laundry garments, dish washing, bathing all require hand transport of water effectively.
Locals protested the truth that the most effective water infrastructure went to factories fairly than residents. One issue is that water demand has skyrocketed as a consequence of extra Manufacturing In a border metropolis in Mexico.
The rise in manufacturing raises one downside, however the greater downside lies in agriculture, the kind of plant and the historically watered methodology. for instance, avocado You want 91 liters a day. 4 instances the manufacturing of oranges and 4 instances the manufacturing of tomatoes.
Alfalfa is one other thirsty crop produced in drought-prone states reminiscent of Texas. California And extra Arizona.
About the identical 80% The water within the Colorado River Basin is used for agriculture, with about half of it being directed in direction of the manufacturing of alfalfa. What’s much more regarding is that almost all water feeds these thirsty crops. And half of that within the dry southwest states of the USA water We will probably be working in direction of the manufacturing of beef and dairy cows.
This can have an effect on cities which are It relies upon fully On the Colorado River. Within the case of Tijuana, Mexico, the provision of the Colorado River 90% Within the water, a metropolis like us Los Angeles and Las Vegas They obtain 50% and 90% from the Colorado River and Basin, respectively.
It is a main concern as each the Colorado River and the Rio Grande are experiencing information Low stage of water. Additionally, getting extra water from Mexico isn’t a long-term answer.
That is what the Biden administration was like It was criticized By withholding water by farmers who haven’t threatened Mexico, the method has centered primarily extra on the long-term challenges.
For the earlier US administration, the answer would make investments extra within the Colorado River basin, incentivizing California, Arizona and Colorado, and save 3 million acre ft of water by 2026. 1 billion US {dollars} (£741,000,000) Federal funds.
What promotes this battle?
However underneath Trump, federal funds are being lower to deal with local weather change. It is elevated polarization Within the US, home politics and rising tensions between the US and Mexico make this disaster much more troublesome.
This is a chance I missed. There may be growing competitors for water, Incessantlythe water scarcity is cooperation.
In the meantime, relations between the US and Mexico proceed to be rocky. Trump threatened to place it down New 30% tariffs in Mexico From August 1st, after claiming he hasn’t finished sufficient to deal with the drug cartel.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her authorities is destroying drug labs day by day, and the US should management weapons that journey throughout the border to Mexico. In the meantime, as Mexico is at the moment the most important within the US, excessive tariffs on Mexican items are prone to have an effect on US shoppers..
Recognizing cooperation, and the position that local weather change performs, and unsustainable types of growth in each agriculture and manufacturing, is essential to fixing this transnational water disaster, however these are unlikely to be acknowledged or addressed by the Trump administration.