Mexico’s national water authority is defending proposed changes to water rights legislation as a debate intensifies ahead of a Wednesday vote in the Chamber of Deputies. The proposed “General Water Law” seeks to address longstanding issues of inequitable access and alleged corruption within the country’s water distribution system, a critical challenge as the nation faces increasing water stress. Officials assert the overhaul will not eliminate existing rights, but will increase oversight and transparency, while opponents claim the reforms threaten established concession holders.
Mexico’s national water commission is defending a proposed overhaul of water rights legislation, dismissing claims it will strip existing concession holders of their rights and replace them with temporary permits. The debate over the new General Water Law is scheduled for Wednesday in the Chamber of Deputies.
Efraín Morales López, director general of the Comisión Nacional del Agua (Conagua), asserted that the existing concession system will remain intact, allowing current rights to be inherited or sold, but with increased oversight to prevent corruption. “The concession system will remain as is; that is, they will be able to be inherited or sold as they did, but in an orderly manner and without corruption,” Morales López said.
The assurances come amid a campaign against the legislation from those who stand to lose preferential access to water resources. Morales López stated the new law includes penalties, but not for small farmers. Instead, the focus is on those who have profited from water access for decades.
According to an interview with La Jornada, the proposed law establishes substantial fines for those hoarding water concessions, and even prison sentences of up to five years for anyone offering or receiving bribes. The move underscores a commitment to tackling illicit activity within the water sector.
Morales López emphasized that opposition to the law stems from those who have financially benefited from the current system, impacting the interests of “mafiosos and abusers” engaged in improper activities. He explained the goal is to transform water distribution across the country, addressing issues caused by overexploitation and the proliferation of free concessions granted to those who then resell the water for profit.
“This is not a persecution, nor is it a punitive law, nor is it about taking anything away from anyone; what we seek is to generate order from now on,” Morales López stated. He noted that of the 536,000 existing water concessions, more than 50,000 are operating irregularly – registered for agricultural use but actually serving resorts, industrial parks, golf courses, or water trucking services.
If approved, the law aims to free businesses, producers, and communities from reliance on intermediaries and reclaim water volume controlled by a small number of individuals. Morales López characterized the legislation as “an act of justice for the people of Mexico,” arguing it’s about ensuring sufficient water access for national development, not simply having water in homes.
Conagua has recovered 4.5 billion cubic meters of water – equivalent to 4.5 trillion liters – during the current administration, according to Morales López, with a significant focus on combating water theft and hoarding. The case highlights the government’s efforts to address long-standing issues of water mismanagement.
The new law would also guarantee access to water for human consumption, while maintaining the concession system with increased order and transparency. This would provide certainty for current concession holders and establish “zero tolerance for corruption” by associating all concessions with a traceable platform managed by Conagua.
Morales López explained that those who have accumulated large numbers of concessions often did so through financial means or political influence, leaving smaller producers with insufficient water for irrigation. Many of these concessions were originally granted for free for agricultural use, but were then sold without regulation.
“There are cases where communities are next to a river and cannot use it because that water belongs to someone; so we are ending that black market for water and preventing overexploitation,” Morales López concluded.
