Water scarcity describes a situation where the demand for usable freshwater in a region exceeds the available supply. This imbalance can result from a lack of sufficient water resources, an inability to access existing water, or poor water quality. Mexico is currently facing a significant and growing challenge with water scarcity across many of its regions. This complex issue stems from a combination of environmental shifts, increasing human demands, and existing systemic limitations.
Climate Change and Shifting Weather Patterns
Climate change directly contributes to water scarcity in Mexico by altering natural hydrological cycles. Prolonged drought conditions have become more frequent and intense in various parts of the country, reducing the availability of surface water and depleting groundwater reserves. For example, in March 2024, 163 municipalities in Mexico experienced extraordinarily intense droughts, a significant increase compared to 2016. These extended dry periods mean less water flows into rivers and reservoirs, which are primary sources for many communities.
Precipitation patterns are also changing, with rainfall becoming more unpredictable and often occurring in different seasons than historically observed. Some regions experience less overall rainfall, while others might see intense, short bursts of rain that lead to runoff rather than effective groundwater recharge. Rising temperatures, a direct consequence of climate change, increase evaporation rates from reservoirs, rivers, and soil, diminishing the amount of water available for human use and ecosystem needs.
Extreme heat events, which are becoming more common, intensify these evaporative losses. The combination of reduced rainfall, altered precipitation timing, and increased evaporation means natural water sources cannot replenish sufficiently to meet demand. This environmental shift places additional stress on Mexico’s already strained water resources, making it harder for both urban and rural areas to secure reliable water supplies.
Rapid Urbanization and Population Growth
Rapid urbanization and ongoing population growth escalate the demand for water across Mexico. As more people concentrate in urban centers, the pressure on existing water resources intensifies for domestic use, including drinking, sanitation, and household activities. Mexico City, for instance, relies heavily on water sources often located far away, exemplifying this escalating demand.
The expansion of urban areas extends into previously undeveloped lands. This growth can encroach upon natural water recharge zones, such as forests and wetlands, reducing their capacity to filter and replenish groundwater. Increasing population density directly translates to a higher per capita water requirement, straining the infrastructure designed for smaller populations.
This demographic shift means more households require consistent access to water for daily life, placing immense stress on both surface and underground water supplies. The sheer number of people needing water outpaces the rate at which these resources can naturally regenerate. Consequently, many urban areas face regular water shortages, necessitating rationing or reliance on costly alternative sources. In 2022, only 78 million of Mexico’s over 120 million inhabitants had daily access to water at home.
Intensive Agriculture and Industrial Demands
Intensive agriculture represents a substantial consumer of water in Mexico, contributing to overall scarcity. The agriculture and livestock sector uses approximately 76% of available water in the country. Agricultural practices, particularly those involving water-intensive crops, demand large volumes of water for irrigation. Traditional irrigation methods, such as flood irrigation, are often inefficient, leading to water loss through evaporation and runoff.
Groundwater sources are particularly vulnerable to depletion due to agricultural extraction, as farmers pump water from underground aquifers to sustain their crops. This continuous extraction can lower water tables, making future access more challenging and expensive. The industrial sector also places demands on water resources for various manufacturing processes, cooling systems, and waste disposal. Self-supplied industry and thermoelectric power plants together account for around 5% of concession-based water consumption.
Industries require large quantities of water, adding to the overall strain on available supplies. Together, agriculture and industry account for the majority of Mexico’s total water usage, far exceeding domestic consumption. The scale of water required by these economic sectors means inefficiencies or high-demand practices widely impact the nation’s water availability.
Challenges in Water Management and Infrastructure
Systemic issues in water management and infrastructure exacerbate Mexico’s water scarcity problem. A substantial amount of treated water is lost within distribution networks due to aging and leaky pipes. On average, 40% of the country’s drinking water sent through pipelines is lost to leaks. These infrastructure deficiencies mean that water pumped from sources often does not reach its intended destination, leading to waste.
Inadequate regulation and enforcement in water governance also contribute to the problem. Illegal water extraction, often for agricultural or industrial purposes, diverts water from legitimate users and depletes shared resources without oversight. Limited enforcement of existing laws allows these unauthorized activities to persist, undermining equitable water management.
Water pollution from various sources contaminates available supplies, rendering them unusable without costly treatment. Industrial discharges, untreated domestic wastewater, and agricultural runoff degrade water quality. For instance, a 2022 study found that less than half of Mexican groundwater was fit for human consumption due to the presence of fluoride, coliform bacteria, nitrates, or heavy metals. This contamination reduces the amount of safe, accessible water, forcing communities to rely on fewer, more distant, clean sources.