Socioeconomic Implications of Water Scarcity: A Case Study of Rural and Urban Disparities in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Abstract

Water availability has diminished worldwide. The lack of water along with the inability to meet human, economic, and environmental needs for water is known as water scarcity. In the coming decades, scarcity is expected to increase, especially in arid locations. Northern Mexico is one of the most vulnerable regions in this regard. Water management deficiencies, population growth, and a lack of technologies in agricultural production have increased the overexploitation of groundwater reservoirs in Mexico. In the last decades, water availability has decreased considerably. The arid and semidesert conditions in northern Mexico, particularly in the state of Nuevo Leon, significantly exacerbate the challenges associated with water scarcity. This region is fundamentally vulnerable to water scarcity due to minimal rainfall, recurrent drought, and limited water resources. Monterrey, the capital of Nuevo Leon, with a population surpassing five million people heavily depends on groundwater aquifers and surface reservoirs for its water requirements. Moreover, the rapid expansion of this urban area in the past decade has further intensified the depletion of aquifers, leading to reduced soil moisture and prolonged drought conditions. Additionally, given the robust manufacturing sector, Monterrey is often recognized as the industrial hub of Mexico. This industrial prominence places extra strain on the already stressed water resources in the region. The urban high population density has overshadowed the pressing urgency of addressing safe water access to the most vulnerable rural communities in the State of Nuevo Leon. Within this region, rural communities face the greatest challenges in obtaining a sufficient quantity and quality of water suitable for human consumption. Additionally, these rural areas often lack or have limited access to education and health services. Consequently, the scarcity of water in these regions is seen as a key factor influencing socioeconomic development. This study examined the disparities that contribute to water poverty by comparing water scarcity between rural and urban populations in Nuevo Leon. The Water Poverty Index (WPI) was used to assess the structural water problems faced by the communities of Nuevo Leon. This methodology was selected to quantify the relationship between water scarcity and poverty in these rural communities and identify the indicators that require the most attention to alleviate the current water crisis. We selected the water poverty index (WPI) as an evaluation metric because of its inherent compatibility with available data sources, which facilitates its application to stakeholders and ensures comparability with other regions. The results revealed significant contrasts in water scarcity between the two populations, indicating that different factors contribute to water poverty based on regional, territorial, and cultural characteristics. These findings underscore the importance of considering region- specific conditions as well as socioeconomic disparities between rural and urban populations and their role in vulnerability to water scarcity in calculating water poverty. These insights provide valuable information for customized solutions to regional challenges, representing leading actions toward sustainable development.