Mexico is set to tackle its pressing water scarcity issues through major investment and strategic infrastructure projects. At President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference held on March 12, 2025, the General Director of the National Water Commission (Conagua), Efran Morales, detailed plans for 17 significant water projects aimed at benefitting around 36 million people across the country.
With over 120 billion pesos (approximately US $6 billion) earmarked between 2025 and 2030, these initiatives form part of the national water plan initially presented last November. "This plan has the fundamental objective of guaranteeing the human right to water," Morales emphasized during his address.
The urgent nature of these developments arises from the widespread drought conditions affecting much of Mexico, marked by regions facing exceptional drought. Authorities are seeking to address both current and future water shortages through innovative solutions.
Among the pivotal projects being undertaken is the Rosarito desalination plant located in Baja California. The facility, with plans to serve almost 1 million residents of Rosarito and Tijuana, is slated for initial investment of 12 billion pesos. Construction is set to commence this November after the tendering process is completed, with completion anticipated by 2028.
Another significant initiative is the construction of El Novillo dam in Baja California Sur. It aims to provide water supply for over 250,000 residents of La Paz and requires approximately 1.42 billion pesos for its development. Work is scheduled to kick-off in August 2025, with completion expected by 2027.
Durango will see improvements as well, with the Tunal II reservoir project aimed at benefiting 333,000 residents and bolstering the region's water treatment capacities. The investment for this project stands at nearly 4 billion pesos, with construction slated to begin by June 2025.
Other notable projects include the Milpillas dam, benefiting Zacatecas with over 500,000 residents served, and the ambitious water storage initiative for the Valley of Mexico, projected to transform water management for over 21.6 million people across the Mexico City metropolitan area.
“It’s very ambitious, and its main objective is to develop projects for water storage,” Morales explained, detailing the extensive investment of 50 billion pesos earmarked for this initiative. Construction for this venture is expected to begin in October 2025 and wrap up by 2030.
Significant flood prevention efforts are also being put forward, including projects in Guerrero, aimed at alleviating issues exacerbated by recent hurricanes, and the flood prevention initiative for Tabasco, which addresses serious flooding concerns prevalent in the region.
Other projects include:
- A water distribution initiative for four municipalities, benefiting 144,000 people with construction starting by May 2025,
- A new aqueduct to supply water to Campeche city, catering to over 250,000 people, with work scheduled to commence by summer 2025.
- Numerous aqueducts across various states including Coatzacoalcos and Guanajuato, promising to improve water access for millions as well.
The plans align with broader objectives to gain control over water management and address systemic inefficiencies, Morales stated. The administration is conducting assessments of the existing infrastructure, with 1,302 assessments completed across 2,478 municipalities.
“This is unprecedented,” Morales asserted, stressing the importance of thorough evaluations to develop efficient strategies moving forward.
With the initial funds available at 15 billion pesos this year, expectations are high for improvements, not only for urban areas but through grassroots initiatives benefitting smaller or more vulnerable communities.
The strategic water infrastructure projects are not merely ambitious plans on paper. They aim to bring the promise of resilient water solutions to chronic instability in Mexico's water supply, of which almost 28% of the population will directly benefit as these projects come to fruition.
These developments mark a significant step forward for the country's water management system, which has struggled under the pressure of increasing demands, climate change, and infrastructural inadequacies.
Families across Mexico are watching closely as these multi-billion peso investments begin to turn from blueprint to reality. The hope is not only to secure water access but also to pave the way for sustainable management and growth as the country navigates the challenges posed by climate variability and urbanization.