Poverty, scarcity and inadequate technology are the main challenges to access to drinking water in Mexico, says Denise Soares, researcher at the Mexican Institute of Water Technology, analyzing decentralized technologies and their impact on the water crisis in Mexico. We translated the article by Gustavo Pacheco, published in the Mexican Excelsior.
Access to water in Mexico remains one of the most important challenges on the country’s environmental and social agenda. Despite a legal framework that recognises water as a human right, millions of people, especially in rural communities, lack access to this essential resource. Denise Soares, a researcher at the Mexican Institute of Water Technology, has pointed out that “one in three Mexicans does not have permanent access to drinking water”, reflecting the deep inequality in the distribution of this resource.
“Paradoxically, in regions with the greatest water scarcity, there is greater coverage of services. This is because access to water depends not only on the quantity available, but also on poverty and public policies that fail to reach all corners of the country.”
One of the solutions that has been promoted to address this problem is decentralized technologies. These include rainwater harvesting systems , dry toilets and biofilters for wastewater treatment, which can be implemented at the community or household level.
“These decentralized technologies are essential in areas where traditional systems fail to meet the needs of the population. It is not just a technical issue, but a social process that must accompany the implementation of these solutions.”
Soares stresses the importance of capacity building in rural communities to ensure that technologies are sustainable in the long term .
“The biggest challenge is not building the infrastructure, but ensuring that people know how to operate it, maintain it and adapt it to their needs. We have seen cases where systems such as dry toilets are abandoned because there was no adequate training process.”
The public health crisis due to lack of water
The situation is particularly critical in terms of public health. According to Soares, “more than half of hospital beds in Mexico are occupied by people suffering from water-related diseases ,” a reality that could be avoided with better sanitation systems and access to safe water. This health crisis is directly linked to the lack of adequate infrastructure and the inefficient use of existing resources.
Despite these challenges, there are important opportunities to improve access to water through more inclusive and sustainable public policies. Soares mentions the advances in the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems , especially in the domestic sector.
“This type of technology is not only a viable option for homes, but should also be considered as part of public policies, so that its adoption is massive and is not relegated to individual initiatives.”
However, he also warns that these systems must be accompanied by greater awareness and social participation .
“Community participation is key. If we fail to make people understand the importance of these solutions, the technologies will simply be abandoned. We have already seen cases where dry toilets end up being used as storage facilities because there was no proper follow-up.”
Access to water in Mexico is a complex problem that requires not only technological solutions, but also a social and participatory approach. Decentralized technologies offer a viable alternative for rural communities that have traditionally been excluded from conventional water and sanitation systems.
But, as Soares warns:
“Without a comprehensive effort that combines technology with education and community participation, it will not be possible to guarantee the sustainability of these solutions in the long term.”
