Mexico’s newly approved National Water Plan (2024-2030) stresses water as a human right and outlines strategies for sustainable water management across the country. With 35 million people facing water shortages, the plan aims to ensure fair access and responsible use of water resources.

The plan focuses on four main areas:

Water policy and national sovereignty
Access to water and justice
Environmental impact reduction and climate change adaptation
Transparent and comprehensive management

The plan addresses critical challenges such as preventing water overuse, promoting efficient agricultural water use, and cleaning the country’s most polluted rivers, including the Lerma-Santiago, Atoyac, and Tula. It also includes 16 key projects to ensure reliable access to drinking water in areas facing the greatest shortages.

A significant component of the plan is the National Agreement for the Right to Water and Sustainability, which officially acknowledges water as a public resource. This agreement encourages industries and irrigation districts to return millions of cubic meters of water for public use, helping to address the needs of water-stressed areas.

The agricultural sector will also benefit from the Irrigation Technification Program, designed to improve water use efficiency and help farmers boost productivity. Governors from all 32 states are committed to developing an infrastructure plan, while universities and research institutions will assist with monitoring and scientific advancements.

Overall, the plan marks a shift from treating water as a commodity to recognizing it as a public resource that must be protected and used sustainably for the benefit of all.