Mexico is a country dealing with scattered environmental challenges. However, today, the entire country is facing a serious water crisis. For everyone living in both rural and urban areas, finding clean water is a daily struggle. According to the Smart Water Magazine, as of July 29, 2024, 43% of Mexican residents lack access to clean water. This lack of access is seriously harming public health AND destroying agriculture in the country.
Causes
Mexico’s water crisis is a cause of multiple issues. Climate change has led to severe droughts in Northern and central Mexico, as they are the dryest regions of the country. Over the past 5 years, these regions have experienced record-low amounts of rainfall with rising temperatures – reducing water supply.
Along with this, Mexico heavily relies on groundwater extraction to provide a consistent water supply to residents. However, as mentioned, with the record-low amounts of rainfall, these underground aquifers have been drained faster than they can be filled. Urban areas such as Monterrey are heavily reliant on these aquifers, placing the city on the front line of issues related to water access.
Pollution is another key factor. Mexico’s rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water are becoming polluted due to littering, sewage, and industrial runoff. The already scarce water sources are polluted, reducing the people’s access to safe drinking water.
Impact on Health
In many rural communites in Mexico, the water crisis is taking a huge toll on public health. Residents are often required to drink, wash, and cook with contaminated water from sources such as lakes, rivers, and streams. Children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are especially vulnerable, leading to high rates of mortality. 70 percent of residents in Mexico get their drinking water from these contaminated sources.
Aside from a drinking water source, this lack of clean water also directly affects sanitation practices for rural communities. Oftentimes, families have no choice but to use this contaminated water for personal hygiene, leading to heatlh complications. The absence of adequate sanitation facilities in rural areas intensifies this issue, as human secretions and waste are dumped into the water source as well.
While rural areas are on the front line of this water sanitation crisis, urban areas aren’t immune. While areas such as Mexico City and Monterrey have more advanced resources and infrastructure, the extremely high demand for water in these populous regions have put a strain on the water supply. Aquifers are depleting, and water sanitation is not adequate, with many people showering in partially unclean water.
Impact on Agriculture
Mexico’s water crisis is also impacting agriculture in rural areas. Agriculture in Mexico relies on irrigation, a farming system which heavily relies on water. With the rainfall decrease and lack of water supply, many farmers face reduced yields and crop failures. Many farmers in
Northern Mexico have abandoned their farmland, affecting their source of food/income.
The ongoing water crisis in Mexico is an issue driven by climate change, over-extraction of groundwater, and heavy contamination of water sources. The lack of access to clean water is not only a major public health concern but also a social challenge, especially for rural and marginalized communities in the country. As Mexico struggles to address this issue, solutions such as improved water management, increased investment in water infrastructure, and more sustainable agricultural practices are very important to ensure long-term availability of clean water for all Mexican residents.
Works Cited
“Mexico’s Water Crisis: Causes and Consequences.” Smart Water Magazine, 29 July 2024, www.smartwatermagazine.com/article/2034/mexicos-water-crisis.
González, Pedro. “Water Scarcity and Public Health in Mexico.” Environmental Studies Journal, vol. 12, no. 4, 2023, pp. 103-119.
Mendoza, Ana. “Pollution and its Impact on Mexico’s Water Resources.” The Mexican Environmental Review, vol. 10, no. 2, 2024, pp. 58-72.
“Water Crisis in Mexico: Effects of Climate Change and Groundwater Depletion.” International Water Research, 2023, www.internationalwaterresearch.org/mexico-crisis.