Chihuahua officials warn of water extraction risks due to treaty obligations

water treaty water deficit Chihuahua dams US-Mexico relations water rights

Mario Mata Carrasco, director of the Central Water and Sanitation Board (JCAS), has warned of potential water extractions from Chihuahua's dams to meet obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. He noted that Republican legislators in Texas have requested that the settlement of Mexico's water deficit be included in USMCA negotiations.

Mata Carrasco clarified that while there is no immediate order to extract 300 million cubic meters specifically from state reservoirs, there is an estimated annual requirement of approximately 300 million cubic meters to cover previous deficits and future cycles. He expressed concern that Chihuahua's dams are being targeted to fulfill these international commitments.

In separate regional developments, Chihuahua Mayor Marco Bonilla addressed political unity within the PAN party ahead of 2027 elections, dismissing rumors of internal betrayal. Additionally, Cruz Pérez Cuéllar, the acting Mayor of Ciudad Juárez, announced plans to investigate the alleged illegal use of funds intended for a new sanitary landfill, claiming resources were diverted to maintain existing facilities.