Background on the Mexican Water Sector and Key Players
The water sector in Mexico is governed by the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (SHCP), which is responsible for managing public finances. Aneas, the National Association of Water and Sanitation Entities in Mexico, plays a crucial role in advocating for efficient water management and infrastructure development. Hugo Rojas, the former director of Aneas, has been analyzing the proposed budget for water-related programs.
Proposed 2026 Budget for Water, Drainage, and Treatment Programs
The proposed federal budget for 2026, known as the Proyecto de Presupuesto de Egresos de la Federación (PPEF), allocates 2,257 million pesos for program U074, renamed from PROAGUA to Agua Potable, Drenaje y Tratamiento. This represents a nominal increase of 3.27% compared to 2025, but in real terms, it remains stagnant concerning the accumulated inflation.
Uneven Distribution of Resources
According to the SHCP proposal, resources are distributed unevenly among Mexican states:
- Chiapas, Chihuahua, and Oaxaca will receive budget increases close to 4.03%.
- Querétaro will see a mere 0.87% increase.
Tlaxcala is the only state experiencing a budget reduction, dropping from 20.86 million pesos in 2025 to 20.63 million pesos in 2026, a 1.09% decrease.
States Without Budget Allocation
Puebla, Guerrero, and Nayarit join the list of states without any budget allocation for this program for the third consecutive year.
Investment in Water Infrastructure
The investment sector, program K027 for water potable, drainage, and sanitation infrastructure, has seen significant growth. It increased from 288 million pesos in 2025 to 16,947 million pesos in 2026, marking more than a 5,700% rise.
These resources will be concentrated on six strategic projects, including:
- 7.5 billion pesos for the Rosarito desalination plant in Baja California
- 2 billion pesos for the Milpillas dam in Zacatecas
- Sanitation projects for the Lerma and Atoyac rivers
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the proposed 2026 budget for water, drainage, and treatment programs in Mexico? The proposed federal budget allocates 2,257 million pesos for program U074 (Agua Potable, Drenaje y Tratamiento), representing a nominal increase of 3.27% compared to 2025.
- How are resources distributed among Mexican states? The SHCP proposal distributes resources unevenly, with Chiapas, Chihuahua, and Oaxaca receiving budget increases close to 4.03%, while Querétaro sees only a 0.87% increase. Tlaxcala is the only state experiencing a budget reduction.
- Which states lack budget allocation for these programs? Puebla, Guerrero, and Nayarit have not received any budget for these programs for the third consecutive year.
- What significant changes are observed in water infrastructure investments? Program K027 for water potable, drainage, and sanitation infrastructure has experienced a massive 5,700% growth from 288 million pesos in 2025 to 16,947 million pesos in 2026. These resources will fund strategic projects, including desalination plants and river sanitation.
