Coahuila faces water crisis due to drought and mining

The Coahuila region in Mexico is facing a severe water crisis driven by prolonged drought, irregular groundwater extraction, and mining activities. In the Carbonífera region, the depletion of aquifers and the deterioration of the Sabinas River have sparked public protests. Officials note that unauthorized well drilling and mining operations, which expose large water surfaces to the atmosphere and accelerate evaporation, are exacerbating the scarcity caused by climate change.

To combat the lack of rainfall, the Coahuila government is maintaining a cloud seeding program to stimulate precipitation. The continuity of this strategy, supported by Governor Manolo Jiménez, is currently under evaluation by a technical committee involving the National Water Commission (Conagua). Decisions regarding the program will depend on dam levels and water availability assessments, with a definitive update expected by late November.