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By KELIN DILLON

On Tuesday, July 12, Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua) declared a state of emergency in light of the enduring drought facing Mexico’s northern states, establishing new regulations for water distribution in the affected territories through the emergency’s publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation. 

According to Conagua, newly introduced measures to address the drought issue include lowering the water distribution volume in affected basins to supply populations who need it most, and may execute additional regulations in collaboration with the representatives of the impacted territories’ respective Basin Councils.

Conagua’s declaration likewise states that applicable concession holders may provide third parties with water under certain provisions in order to help continue mitigating the effects of the lasting drought.

Mexico’s drought problem extends far beyond its northern states; according to Drought Monitor Mexico, more than 47.5 percent of the country is currently facing some level of drought. Still, these conditions are most harsh in the north, where Sonora, Baja California, Coahuila and Chihuahua have 99.9 percent, 97.7 percent, 95.8 percent and 90.1 percent of their respective territories impacted by the continued dry spell.

“The most important strategy to face its effects of the drought is for users to implement preventive and mitigating actions, and if necessary, Conagua orders temporary measures to guarantee domestic and urban public use,” read the declaration.