Mexican water legislation is based on the Mexican Political Constitution, since its articles 4, 27 and 115 establish the guidelines for water management, indicating that the State must guarantee this right in an equitable and sustainable manner with the participation of the Federation, the states and the citizenry.
In addition, the National Water Law (LAN) is the regulatory order of constitutional article 27. The LAN regulates the distribution and control of water, and designates the National Water Commission as the body responsible for exercising authority and administration of water on behalf of the Executive. However, despite the fact that article 4 of the Mexican Political Constitution was reformed in 2012 to recognize water and sanitation as a human right and a period of 360 days was established for the Congress of the Union to issue a new General Water Law, 12 years have passed and this has not been fulfilled.
During these years and in response, various institutions, organizations, academics, indigenous peoples and communities have carried out various activities and participation mechanisms to highlight the urgency of a General Water Law. Among the most recent is the creation of the Autonomous Citizen Water Comptrollers.
What are the Autonomous Citizen Water Comptrollers?
In the first instance, these Water Comptrollers arise on the eve of the General Water Law being approved and are a participation mechanism where a process takes place that makes citizens and peoples responsible for water and the environment. [1]
“They are structures organized by communities and citizens, articulated regionally and nationally, to carry out diagnoses, agree on plans and proposals and influence government action regarding the management of water and its natural environment. They denounce corruption, promote government actions in favor of the human right and the peoples to water, strengthening participatory democracy.”
The Water Comptrollers' Offices seek to combat the water crises we are experiencing in Mexico. In other words, in addition to making all the problems visible, it is also essential to generate proposals and alternatives for water management. In addition, there is a search for greater transparency and human sensitivity on the part of public servants.
Are the Autonomous Citizen Water Comptrollers' Offices recognized?
Not entirely, but yes, they are mechanisms of citizen action protected by the Political Constitution, since our rights are exercised collectively, such as:
- Article 2°; Right of indigenous peoples and communities to self-determination and, consequently, to autonomy to decide their internal forms of coexistence and social, economic, political and cultural organization.
- Article 4°; Human right to water and a healthy environment, to food and health, and mandates citizen and government participation to guarantee equitable and sustainable access to water.
- Article 9°: The right to associate or meet peacefully for any lawful purpose may not be restricted.
- Article 35°; Right to associate to take part in the country's political affairs.
And in the specific case of the Political Constitution of Mexico City, in its article 61 it is established that the General Comptroller's Office will invite citizens to participate as Citizen Comptroller[2].
Currently there is the Promoting Group of the Autonomous National Comptroller's Office of Water, which is a group made up of 19 autonomous comptrollers' offices and promoting groups in 15 states, and it also seeks to formalize an autonomous national comptroller's office, made up of voices from communities, indigenous peoples, social and environmental organizations and technical bodies committed to good water management. This approach seeks to resolve ignored and urgent problems, such as[3]:
- Recognition of the rights to water of indigenous peoples, agrarian groups and community systems
- Resolving urban leaks
- Addressing pollution in areas of health and environmental emergency
- Adopting a management model based on treated rainwater Ending over-concessioning
- Ending the purchase and sale of concessions and illegal extractions
- Acting under a watershed management approach
- Guaranteeing the right to consultation
- Using water efficiently for food sovereignty
- Achieving the de-privatization of water
- Guaranteeing universal access to water services and sanitation
- Prohibiting toxic mining and fracking
- Guaranteeing security and justice for water defenders
The Water Comptrollership project that is being developed represents an innovative and necessary initiative for the sustainable and equitable management of water. It reinforces the capacities recognized by law by granting new powers, such as proposing laws, projects and public policies, guaranteeing citizen participation in government decisions, documenting and reporting violations of water and environmental laws, evaluating the performance of officials responsible for water and the environment3 and reversing the authorization of new megaprojects[4], facilitating and guaranteeing fair and sustainable access and use.
Finally, if you are interested in being part of a Water Comptrollership, you should know that there are two key groups in this process, the Seed Nucleus and the Promoter Group.
The Seed Nucleus is the identity and is made up of those people who have worked in defense of water and related matters within their territory and can call on people and groups to be part of it in an inclusive way. The Promoter Group emerged from the call of the “Seed Nucleus” and constituted the Autonomous Water Comptroller's Office in order to carry out diagnoses, build bridges, and invite other people and groups to participate in the process.
Currently in Mexico there are Seed Nuclei, Promoter Groups and Water Comptroller's Offices. Get close to them and participate in the management of our water!
Directory:
National
- National Autonomous Water Comptroller
Contact: contraloria.nacional.agua@gmail.com
Baja California
- Baja California Citizen Water Comptroller
Contact: Facebook
Coahuila
- Coahuila Autonomous Water Comptroller “Gloria Tobón”
- Saltillenses for the Human Right to Water
Contact: Facebook
Durango
- Durango Autonomous Citizen Water Control Office
Contact: gpcca.agua.dgo@gmail.com
Guanajuato
- GP Autonomous Citizen Water Comptroller of Guanajuato
Contact: gp.contraloriaciudadana.agua.gto@gmail.com
Oaxaca
- Citizen/Community Observatory of Water and the Environment (Central Valleys)
Contact: observatorioaguaoaxaca@gmail.com
Querétaro
- Autonomous Citizen Water Comptroller of Querétaro.
Contact: Facebook
Sonora
- Autonomous Citizen Water Comptroller General of Sonora
Contact: contraloriajiakidelagua@outlook.com
Valley of Mexico and surroundings
- Autonomous Water Comptroller General of the Mexico Basin and surroundings
Contact: contraloriadelagua@gmail.com - Autonomous Water Comptroller General of the Toltec Region
Contact: nodoregionotolteca@gmail.com - Autonomous Water Comptroller General of the Water, North node, Water School
Contact: Facebook
Find out the rest here.
References:
[1] National Autonomous Water Comptroller General of Sonora. (2024). Building good water governance in the face of a failed institution. Mexico City.
[2] Secretariat of the General Comptroller (n.d.). What is Citizen Comptrollership? Government of Mexico City.
[3] La Coperacha Editorial Team (2024). Promoting the Autonomous National Water Comptrollership. La Coperacha.
[4] Velasco, S. (2023). Citizens seek water comptrollers in CDMX. Reforma.