25 Years of neglect in Mexico

In 1980, the Mexican Government implemented the largest hydraulic project in Latin America, to supply water to Mexico City. This project is known as the Cutzamala System. It consists of eight dams collecting all the water from the Balsas watershed; this is then pumped to over 1,100m above sea level and sent via gravity to Mexico City. 14.5 sq meters of drinking water is sent to Mexico City every second.

The water now caught and diverted to Mexico City was once feeding the environment and people living in the affected states; Estado de Mexico, Guerrero and Michoacan. 25 years later extreme poverty has increased, with people now having to travel long distances to gain access to water.

The region’s environment has also been severely damaged. Over-exploitation and poor watershed management have caused deforestation, erosion, loss of water springs and pollution of water bodies.

This situation has prompted local people to establish the ‘Common Front for the Defence of Natural Resources and Human Rights of the Mazahua People’. This group is demanding that the Federal Authority and the National Water Commission (CNA) develop a sustainable, integrated plan for the region’s development, compensation for damage to crops and a supply of drinking water.

In response to the lack of action from the authorities, the Zapatista Women’s Army for the Defence of Water was formed. Although their struggle is non-violent, they have stated that they would resort to using force and even die for their cause.

On the 5th October 2004, after many protests, the authorities signed a preliminary agreement to implement a sustainable programme of development in the areas surrounding the Cutzamala System. Two million Mexican Pesos (US$177,000) will be provided initially for forestry development. It is hoped that this is the first step of many to giving the people back their right to water.