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This conference in Phoenix, Arizona in December 2006 focuses on border environment cooperation and legislative action to improve infrastructure in the Paquimé archaeological zone. Explore the history, society, and infrastructure of this pre-Hispanic city and learn about the current challenges and projects in the region.
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BORDER LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE BORDER ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION COMMISSION PHOENIX, ARIZONA DECEMBER 2006
PaquiméBorder Infrastructure 1400 A.D. • A city about 280 km northwest of Chihuahua in a • basin on the vast high plains of northern Mexico. • It was the most important pre-Hispanic city in northern México, • Inhabited since 700 AD, reached its golden era and fall between XIII and XV centuries, just before the Spaniard conquest.. • It is near the center of what is called the Casas Grandes Archaeological Zone in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, including the states of Chihuahua, Nuevo México, Colorado and Arizona. • Agriculture development allowed the population growth and city development • Multi-colored pottery, cotton clothes, turquoise, copper and sea shells jewelry • Bred macaws and turkeys for penachos and other art crafts
PaquiméBorder Infrastructure 1400 A.D. • Paquimeans were able to manage water sources and built a distribution systems within the city. They built channels, storage facilities, dams and a whole integrated system to ensure supply under diverse climate conditions. • They built dams and channel to control flooding and soil erosion.
Society and Infrastructure • Human aspiration since the dawn of civilization • Characteristic of advanced societies, including Paquimé (Anazasi culture) • Infrastructure liberates human beings from heavy burdens and allows time for productive activities • Intuitively, society associates infrastructure with health • Symbol of progress and a factor of personal and social motivation Unsatisfied demands from the Border residents
12 YEARS 0 130 100 50 135 CITIZEN COMMITTES 135 COMITES CIUDADANOS 60 PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE 60 PROYECTOS EN CARTERA $1,060 Million 115 CERTIFIED PROJECTS 115 PROYECTOS CERTIFICADOS $2,670 Million 137 COMMUNITIES WITH TECH ASSISTANCE 137 COMUNIDADES CON ASISTENCIA TECNICA$33.5 Million ACTIONS
Infrastructure and Well-being A MILLION DOLLARS INVESTED IN WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ALLOWS: • $11.1 millIon in private sector investment 221 new jobs created $1.7 million in tax revenue $52.2 million in good produced by the private sector
Border Situation (1) • The border region has a length of 3,000 km, 100 km to the north of the U.S., and 300 km to the south in Mexico. • Four states in the U.S. and 6 in Mexico. • Ecosystems consist of Mojave desert, Arizona-Sonoran desert, Chihuahuan desert, semi-arid grasslands, brush, foothills, and sporadic forests with oak and pine. • Limited precipitation, except in the eastern part of the border (from 50 to 500 mm per year.)
Situation of Water Resources • Scarce and highly used. • Drought with varying recurring rates. • Limited drought response capacity by governments and society in general. • Complicated situation due to binational basins administered according to Treaties signed in 1906 and 1944.
Demographic situation • The 100 km Mexican border has an approximate population of 5,500,000 people in 38 municipalities. • In the United States the population is approximately 6,500,000 people living in 48 counties and 26 cities with more than 5,000 inhabitants. • In the Mexican border region, population is expected to reach 11,470,000 inhabitants, and 9,400,000 inhabitants for the U.S. side of the border by the year 2025.
Average water availability per capita (m3/capita/year)
Coverage and consumption (BECC, 2006) • The water, wastewater collection, and wastewater treatment coverage for 63 communities in the 300 km Mexican border region with a population over 10,000 are 97, 88, and 70%, respectively. • The total consumption of the surveyed communities totals 9,700 hm3. The average water consumption per capita is 254 L/capita/day • According to CNA (2004), the annual agricultural consumption in the 300 km Mexican border is approximately 16,338 hm3 to irrigate 850,000 hectares. The main crops in the region include cotton and grains.
Water use by sector (in million m3)
Required Investment in Environmental Infrastructure (300 km) [US$ millions]
Water Problems on the Mexican Border (1) Physical aspects Operational issues Strategic issues Social issues Legal issues
Water Problems (2) • Physical aspects • Water shortages (climate cycles, global warming, international treaties) • Lack of adequate water, wastewater collection and treatment services • Lack of source diversification • Unnecessary waste and inefficient use of water resources (low level of reuse, water losses) • Damage to ecosystems caused by the monopolization by humans and lack of understanding of the benefits resulting from healthy ecosystems.
Water Problems (3) Operational issues (1) • Lack of adequate management in urban and rural utilities • Lack of adequate budget • Lack of staff continuity and lack of proper training in technical, administrative and planning issues • Lack of performance measurement mechanisms (certification, benchmarking)
Water Problems (4) Strategic issues(2) • Lack of master planning and public involvement (diagnostics, alternative analysis, proposals) • Centralized water management • Limited financial resources, lack of funding diversification, and lack of programs that allow utility sustainability • Lack of institutional strength in strategic institutions (strengthen CNA, BECC, NADB) and lack of coordination between the institutions. • Lack of information for decision-making purposes.
Water Problems (5) Social issues • Lack of public participation • Limited feedback from social organizations (BECC public participation committees) • Lack of commitment of just payment for services • Lack of environmental education as it relates to water conservation • Partisanship of water resources • Use of water resources as a tool for partisanship • Populist policies for water management • Special interests • Use of water resources as a tool to satisfy group interests • Lack of agreements among users and lack of adequate markets for water reuse
Water Problems (6) Legal aspects • Deficient legal framework • Lack of regulations regarding strategic management. • Weak enforcement • Lack of definition of responsabilities at the three levels of government • Lack of transparency
Border Water Vision The border region will have an adequate drinking water supply to meet its user’s needs: cities, agriculture, and ecosystems, through an effort that takes into account the regional hydraulic limits and the need to conserve water and protect its sources for the benefit of present and future generations.
Effective water management practices Drinking water Water • Adequate drinking water coverage of sufficient quality and availability, will be in place • Adequate conservation practices will be in place in urban and rural utilities as well as in the agriculture sector. • Water sources (surface water and ground water) will be adequately protected from pollution and excessive withdrawal
Wastewater 2. Effective wastewater management practices Wastewater • Adequate sewer coverage, wastewater treatment and sludge management will be in place. • There will be a significant increase in reuse practices in urban and rural areas. • Water rights management is improved through the increased exchange of treated wastewater.
Strategy STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK Adequate water supply to satisfy user’s needs: cities, agriculture, and ecosystems. Adequate water management to guarantee sustainability of water sources and pollution prevention CROSS CUTTING POLICIES Binational and multidisciplinary management Agreement between sectors and shared responsibility Transparency and public participation
Gracias Daniel Chacon-Anaya General Manager dchacon@cocef.org