Monterey, NL. With the actions carried out to find alternate sources of drinking waterit is expected that in 8 years the state will have a supply of 8 cubic meters per second, including the Liberty Dam in 2025, which will provide 5 m3/sec, plus the wells in the citrus region, which will guarantee the flow of the vital liquid for 10 to 12 years, said Juan Ignacio Barragán Villarreal, director of Water and Drainage Services of Monterrey.
“These are actions agreed upon with the National Water Commission, the governor has made arrangements, an investment level of 7,000 million pesos is estimated, although it may vary, with rate adjustments to resolve the supply in 10 or 12 years, we need to have water security ”, said the official.
He added that from October 5, 2021, the review of the water plan began to think about a project by 2050 and give certainty to the state regarding water supply. This plan is being worked on with experts in legal, technical and hydrological matters.
They are also analyzing three options to have more water: a desalination plant, the Vicente Guerrero Dam and the concession of the Panuco River.
He explained that water moves through basins, so a regional solution must be found. The seawater desalination plant could be in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, “it is a source that must be kept in mind, because the cost of desalination is decreasing.”
On the other hand, New Lion has a concession that Conagua gave it to bring 15 cubic meters per second from the Pánuco River, it is an expensive project and requires the support of neighboring states, such as Tamaulipas, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz, as well as the federation, and it could materialize the project as a Public Private Association (PPP).
They would also have to request support from the International Boundary and Water Commission (CILA), as well as from the North American Development Bank (Nadbank), this project requires four years for its development.
In addition, they are working on the analysis of ultra-deep aquifers in the Sierra, first they will start with six deep wells to fill the aqueduct and later they will seek to expand the project.
They reduce consumption
On the other hand, he highlighted that on February 27 the lowest consumption figure was recorded, which was 13,721 liters in a week, so consumption is in the orange zone, “hopefully this awareness continues to face this drought, the The goal is to reach the green zone to save the crisis, so we must continue to reduce water consumption,” said Barragán Villarreal.
He warned that if the population does nothing there will be a deficit of the vital liquid that could reach 35% in summer. “In March and April we need to strengthen the reduction of consumption, the shallow wells only produce 3 cubic meters per second, the biggest problems are in the Topo Chico area, because they are further away from the transfer ring.”
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