The US-Mexico Border: Conflict and Co-operation in Water Management

Water has become a topic of general concern to governments and society worldwide. Mexico and the United States are no exception, especially considering that the border between the two countries is located in an area not only characterized by drought and low rainfall, but also by the growth of the population living on both sides and the impacts of industrial development projects and increased pressure on water demand. The two countries share major surface water basins under an international treaty that was signed in 1944, but this treaty does not include the groundwater. Competition for water within each country has been growing, and also between the two countries, creating potential for possible conflicts, but has also resulted in close co-operation. This paper analyzes how the two countries work to reduce conflict and enhance co-operation in terms of managing water scarcity.