What is the truth of the water decrees signed by the president of the republic of Mexico?

Clean water for Sayulita

The ADEPM had a meeting with Salvador Amaral Lopez, local director of CONAGUA Nayarit, to follow up on the water treatment plant in Sayulita, a situation that has been classified as a priority for the Federal Government, and the CONAGUA leaders.

He commented that the construction works continue in the previously established times, and the project is advancing favorably for the habitants and visitors of the zone. It is calculated to be operational before the beginning of 2019; remaining only the development of the submarine emitter project.

In the face of this news, ADEPM questioned the plans for the future operational management of the new water plant in Sayulita. The CONAGUA leader responded that by policy, the operation should be determined by the Municipality of Bahía de Banderas through its operator organization: OROMAPAS who will determine who will be responsible for the correct operation of the plant.

Amaral Lopez, also shared information on the Ten Water Decrees that President Enrique Peña Nieto signed last June. Here we answer the questions we have all had or have regarding these important issues.

Do the Water Decrees of President Enrique Peña Nieto privatize the resource?

Last June 5 was Environment Day, it was also the day, the President of Mexico signed Ten Decrees to change the ban on public waters to reserve the regime of 300 hydrological basins of the country, equivalent to 55% of lakes and rivers of the Mexican territory.

Do these decrees privatize water?

NO THEY DO NOT. Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution establishes that:

“The ownership of the lands and waters committed within the limits of the national territory originally corresponds to the nation who has the right to transfer the ownership of these waters to individuals, constituting private property”.

To eliminate these concessions on water, a majority of two thirds of the Congress of the Union and a majority of the State Congresses is required.

So what do the decrees that change the closed regime of these hydrological basins, which represent a large percentage of the surface waters of the country, mean?

That now, instead of prohibiting the use of the water, a minimum reserve is established and the use to the concession of surplus liquid is allowed. The new decrees establish a limit and percentage of water for agricultural, industrial and human uses through a concession title, guaranteeing that a reserve is maintained.

It is important to mention that the Government of Mexico was advised by the largest independent organization of environmental conservation on the planet, Word Wildlife Fund, who affirm that water reserves do not represent privatization of the resource or eliminate any right to use, but on the contrary, clearly establishes volumes of water that must remain intact for biodiversity.

Each of the decrees in essence, dictates the same, but correspond to 10 different rivers. The selected areas and rivers are: Grijalva-Usumacinta, in Chiapas, Tabasco and Campeche. The Papaloapan river in Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz. The Panuco river in the State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Tamaulipas and Nuevo León. La Costa Chica in Guerrero and Costa Grande also in Guerrero and Oaxaca. The San Fernando Soto la Marina in Tamaulipas and Nuevo León. The Santiago river in Aguascalientes, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi; and Zacatecas. The Actopan-Antigua in Veracruz and Puebla; la Costa de Jalisco, Colima and Jalisco; and Ameca in Nayarit and Jalisco.

Water Decrees in Mexico. Ameca river in Nayarit and Jalisco

Several opinions, analysis, articles and critiques have emerged regarding this theme, becoming a defining issue in Mexican politics, the mayor question we must ponder is Who should best look after for this important resource, The politicians and bureaucrats or Private owners?