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US- Mexico Water Dispute with US: 81-Year Deal Sparks Tension Amid Worst Drought
USA, July19,2025: The 1944 water treaty between the US and Mexico outlines how the Rio Grande and Colorado River waters are shared:
Table of Contents
- The Mexico Water Dispute in 2025
- Drought Hits Northern Mexico: Faith and Fear in the Air
- The 1944 US-Mexico Water Treaty Explained
- How Much Water Is Mexico Obliged to Send?
- Texas Farmers Cry Foul Over Shortage
- Clashes, Deaths, and Diplomatic Friction
- The Irrigation Debate: Efficiency vs. Tradition
- Mexico’s New Approach: Sprinklers and Strategy
- Is the 1944 Treaty Still Relevant in 2025?
- Environmental Impact: A Dying Lake and Lost Livelihoods
- Conclusion: Prayers, Politics, and the Price of Water
The Mexico Water Dispute in 2025
The Mexico water dispute with the United States has reached boiling point, quite literally. Amid one of the worst droughts in decades, northern Mexico is experiencing a severe water crisis that has exposed fault lines in an 81-year-old treaty.
With water levels plunging at La Boquilla Dam and tensions rising across the border, both nations are standing on the edge of an environmental and diplomatic standoff.
Drought Hits Northern Mexico: Faith and Fear in the Air
In the sun-scorched town of San Francisco de Conchos, Chihuahua, prayers have become a daily ritual. Locals are gathering at the dry banks of the La Boquilla Dam, once submerged under Lake Toronto, now cracked and bleached.
The local priest leads a somber crowd of farmers in prayer, including Rafael Betans, a volunteer who has monitored the lake for 35 years. Standing on the dry, white rocks that were once underwater, he says, “This entire area should be under water.”
The 1944 US-Mexico Water Treaty Explained
The 1944 water treaty between the US and Mexico outlines how the Rio Grande and Colorado River waters are shared:
- Mexico must deliver 430 million cubic meters of water annually to the U.S. from the Rio Grande.
- In return, the U.S. sends 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River to Mexico.
- Shared reservoirs and dams, like Amistad and La Boquilla, are monitored and regulated by the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC).
This treaty was created in an era before climate change, rapid population growth, and intensive farming methods. Yet it remains the backbone of US-Mexico water relations.
How Much Water Is Mexico Obliged to Send?
Currently, Mexico is behind on its payments. The country owes around 1.5 billion cubic meters of water—an amount that’s caused political uproar, especially in Texas.
To start making up for the shortfall, Mexico recently released 75 million cubic meters through the Amistad dam—but that’s just 5% of what’s owed.
Texas Farmers Cry Foul Over Shortage
On the other side of the border, in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, farmers like Bryan Jones are watching their crops wilt. A fourth-generation grower, Jones says he has only been able to irrigate half his farmland in the past three years.
“We’re not asking for anything more than what the treaty promises,” he says. “But Mexico hasn’t delivered. They’re storing the water, using it for their own crops, and leaving us dry.”
Clashes, Deaths, and Diplomatic Friction
Tensions over water have even turned deadly. In September 2020, Mexican farmers clashed with national guards at the La Boquilla dam, trying to prevent water diversion. Two people were killed.
Now, the rhetoric is heating up again. Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social accusing Mexico of “stealing water” and threatening tariffs or sanctions unless they repay their water debt.
Meanwhile, newly elected Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has acknowledged the crisis but insists Mexico is doing its best under difficult circumstances.
The Irrigation Debate: Efficiency vs. Tradition
Adding fuel to the Mexico water dispute is a major debate about irrigation efficiency.
Chihuahua’s two main crops—walnuts and alfalfa—are both water-thirsty. Walnut trees alone need 250 liters per day per tree.
Traditional irrigation systems flood fields using open channels, wasting thousands of liters daily.
Mexico’s New Approach: Sprinklers and Strategy
Some Mexican farmers, like former mayor Jaime Ramírez, are adapting. He has installed modern sprinkler systems that reduce water use by up to 60%, maintaining productivity while conserving resources.
“Yes, it costs more upfront,” Ramírez admits, “but over time, it’s cheaper. It saves water, energy, and ensures we can keep farming even in dry years.”
Still, not everyone can afford this technology. And as Ramírez warns, “If we don’t get rain this year, next year we might only have enough water for people to drink—not for farming.”
Is the 1944 Treaty Still Relevant in 2025?
In Mexico, many argue that the 1944 water treaty no longer reflects present-day realities. The agreement was made when both nations had smaller populations, fewer farms, and no climate crisis.
Ramírez says, “It worked then. But today, with droughts and climate change, it needs updating.”
But Texans like Jones disagree. “The treaty worked when my grandfather was farming. Mexico has broken the trust. That’s the problem.”
Environmental Impact: A Dying Lake and Lost Livelihoods
Beyond farming, the dropping water levels are damaging Lake Toronto’s fragile ecosystem. Rafael Betans says water is evaporating faster than ever, endangering fish and aquatic life.
The once-thriving tourism around the lake—fishing, boating, and wildlife spotting—is now virtually dead.
“We’ve never seen it this bad,” says Betans. “Now we just pray for rain.”
Prayers, Politics, and the Price of Water
The Mexico water dispute with the United States is a ticking time bomb, driven by drought, outdated treaties, and competing survival needs.
While politicians argue and farmers struggle, nature continues its slow collapse. Climate change is making old rules obsolete, and unless both countries renegotiate with sustainability and science at the forefront, the conflict will only deepen.
Water, once a symbol of life, has become a weapon of politics.