Water for Everyone

This past March 22 we celebrated World Water Day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly 30 years ago at the suggestion of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Its aim is to remind us all of the importance of water, not only for human life, but for all species and for the sustainable development of the 7.8 billion people who inhabit our planet.

Of this remarkable number, more than a third have no drinking water, and more than half lack safely managed sanitation services.

According to the United Nations, water is a fundamental human right for development and world peace, since it is at the center of all the activities we carry out. It represents human health, food supply, economic development, urbanization, equality, job creation, the survival of ecosystems, and social well-being and, among many other things, it helps close the gap of social inequality and reduce poverty.

Although three quarters of the planet is made up of water, only 20% is fresh water and barely 0.77% is suitable for human consumption.

Uses of Water

Every week, a million people move to cities, and the centralized demand for water increases exponentially.

A family uses an average of around 30,000 liters of water a month for its daily activities.

The National Water Commission (CONAGUA) identifies four main uses of water, in which agricultural use for irrigation accounts for 76% of total consumption, followed by public supply (15%), self-supplied industry (5%), and thermoelectric plants (5%).

In 2018, according to CONAGUA data, the area planted under irrigation in Mexico was 6.17 million hectares. This represents an increase of almost 20% in groundwater use compared with 2009.

This increase in water consumption in agricultural activities has caused water stress in many of our country's aquifers.

Groundwater

This year, the United Nations focused the celebration of World Water Day on groundwater, "making the invisible visible."

Aquifers are water sources that are recharged naturally, mainly by rainfall, and without them life would not be possible, since they account for close to 40% of our supply. They are essential for our consumption, food production, industry, sanitation, and the balance of ecosystems and climate.

CONAGUA reports that there are 635 aquifers in Mexico and that 115 of them are overexploited, since more water is extracted than is recharged naturally.

At Aguas Firmes, a project of Grupo Modelo and the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development-GIZ, our main objective is to save water by modernizing irrigation systems in the field and to naturally increase the recharge of our groundwater, increasing the water sustainability of the aquifers of:

• Apan, Hidalgo, whose territory relies entirely on rainfed agriculture and has seen a decline in water bodies, soil, and vegetation

• and Calera, Zacatecas, a state that depends on groundwater for 75% of its supply.

Our goal for 2024 is to increase infiltration by 2 million cubic meters and achieve water savings of 30%, which will help ensure water availability for the communities.

How will we achieve our goals? Through nature-based solutions, conservation agriculture, modernized irrigation systems, and governance mechanisms.

During 2021 we carried out actions that bring us closer to our goals.

By applying these conservation works and conservation agriculture, and by modernizing irrigation systems, with the Aguas Firmes project we want to bring about a great change by increasing the natural recharge of our groundwater.

Great objectives are achieved with everyone's participation. From whatever sphere we take an active part in, whether in industry, at home, or in the field, we can contribute to the sustainable care of water.

Tell us, how do you take care of water? It is very important for us to hear from you and, together, to act and build a future with water.

Sources:

SINA – National Water Information System

CONAGUA – National Water Commission

UN – United Nations

WHO – World Health Organization

Tags: Water conservation, Water