The United States and Mexico have agreed on a water pact that could give relief to farmers in the drought-stricken Rio Grande Valley and end Mexico's debt of around 1.5 million acre-feet (1.85 billion m3) of water that has accumulated since 1992. The first release under the pact involves 90,000 acre-feet (111 million m3) of water from the Falcon Reservoir along the border west of San Antonio. The agreement also calls for future releases intended to ease the water debt and financial investment from both countries to conserve water and improve the system's efficiency. Mexico is seeking funds for a huge irrigation improvement project that could involve funds from the jointly controlled North American Development Bank. But Texas farmers and politicians have said the United States should not send funds to help Mexican farmers while Mexico owed water to US farmers.

Related news: Water Debt Problem and Cooperation between Mexico and United States, Source, 3 Jun 2002, URL: http://www.wsscc.org/source/weekly/02212.html#me...

Source: WaterTech Online, 1 Jul 2002