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Fluvial sediment analysis and water quality assessment are useful to identify anthropic and natural sources of pollution in rivers. Currently, there is a lack of information about water quality in the Pixquiac basin (Veracruz state, Mexico), and this scarcity of data prevents authorities to take adequate measures to protect water resources. The basin is a crucial territory for Xalapa, the capital city of Veracruz state, as it gets 39% of its drinkable water from it. This research analyzed 10 physicochemical parameters and 12 metal concentrations in various rivers and sources during two seasons. Dissolved metals presented average concentrations (µg/L): Al (456.25) > Fe (199.4) > Mn (16.86) > Ba (13.8) > Zn (7.6) > Cu (1.03) > Pb (0.27) > As (0.12) > Ni (0.118) (Cd, Cr and Hg undetectable). Metals in sediment recorded average concentrations (ppm): Fe (38575) > Al (38425) > Mn (460) > Ba (206.2) > Zn (65.1) > Cr (29.8) > Ni (20.9) > Cu (16.4) > Pb (4.8) > As (2.1) (Cd and Hg undetectable). During the rainy season, Water Quality Index (WAWQI) classified stations P17 and P18's water as "unsuitable for drinking" with values of 110.4 and 117.6. Enrichment factor (EF) recorded a "moderate enrichment" of Pb in sediment in P24. Pollution was mainly explained by wastewater discharges in rivers but also because of erosion and rainfall events. Statistical analysis presented strong relationships between trace and major metals which could explain a common natural origin for metals in water and sediment: rock lixiviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To analyze water insecurity (WI), water supply frequency (WSF), and food insecurity (FI) in Mexican households, address their determinants, and propose recommendations for public policy. Materials and methods. Data from 28 500 households from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut Continua 2020-2023) were analyzed. Validated experience scales such as HWISE and ELCSA were applied to measure WI and FI, as well as an indicator of the frequency of water supply, according to some determinants. Results. 16% of Mexican households experience WI and 22% suffer from moderate and severe FI. Only 34.7% receive water 24 hours a day, every day. The determinants of households most affected by WI, FI and in WSF, are poor welfare conditions, indigenous people and when WI and FI are found together in households. Conclusions. It is imperative to accelerate the implementation and improve the coverage of actions that positively impact access and availability of water and food for vulnerable people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cacti are a distinguished group of plants that stand out for their great nutritional values, diverse uses, and unique morphology, allowing them to grow and thrive under different conditions such as dry, xeric, and even low‐temperature environments. The world is going through significant climate changes that are affecting the agriculture system. Therefore, sustainable and multifunctional crops, as many species of the Cactaceae family are, might be a good alternative in the near future. In this work, the uses of cacti in human food were analyzed through a scientific prospection from the point of view of their temporal and spatial distribution and potential uses. Brazil is the country with more publications related to the scope of this work, followed by Mexico. The presence of cacti in these countries can influence their interest in these species, which might reflect the results encountered in this study. The uses and ethnobotanical applications of cacti vary in different countries worldwide. Cactus is consumed fresh (in salads), in preparations (jams and sweets), and juices, being also present in traditional dishes in countries like Mexico. This study emphasizes cacti's importance in people's diets and ongoing world changes. Their ability to thrive even in hot environments with low water resources will lead to a greater focus on these species in the upcoming years. Furthermore, these plants have great flavor and contain several beneficial chemical compounds with desirable nutritional and health properties. Therefore, knowledge dissemination combined with technological innovations will allow greater use of these multifunctional species for human consumption. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanics in the United States are among those with highest consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and lowest consumption of water. These dietary disparities are rooted in systemic influences that must be identified and addressed. The study aimed to describe how Hispanic parents currently living in the greater Washington, DC, metro area and born outside of the United States, perceived upstream factors that influenced their current beverage choice. Six qualitative focus groups were conducted in Spanish in 2021. Hispanic parents (n = 31) of children enrolled in Early Head Start in the greater Washington, DC, metro area were recruited (all women, born outside the United States, and spoke Spanish as a first language). Verbatim transcripts were analyzed deductively using the Community Energy Balance Framework. The five key findings were: Growing up (in their countries of origin in Central America and Mexico) participants were used to drinking water, often gathered it from the source, and liked its flavor. Relatives passed down their knowledge about potabilization of water, the health benefits of drinking water, and health consequences of drinking SSBs. Growing up, prepackaged SSBs were not as accessible compared with where they now live in the United States. Participants perceived that sociocultural hospitality norms dictated that guests should be served SSBs and not water. Participants noted that messages regarding juice and water across US public health programs and policies were not aligned. These findings suggest there are opportunities for public health messaging and procurement of safe, palatable drinking water in lieu of SSBs and juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lack of access to piped water, as well as inadequate quantity and quality of water, are risk factors for acute gastrointestinal infections. In 2022, 4.9% of households in Mexico did not have piped water; 19.3% lacked, at some point, sufficient water for hygiene; and 18.9% perceived that the water was unfit for human consumption. During the same year, at least 1,441,226 people suffered from a gastrointestinal infection. Households without access to piped water and with insufficient water for hygiene were 27% more likely to suffer from a gastrointestinal infection than households with piped water and a sufficient supply for hygiene (odds ratio: 1.27; CI 95%: 1.26–1.28). The latent class analysis shows that 22% of households belong to the high-risk class of suffering gastrointestinal infections associated with a lack of piped water, insufficient quantity, and poor quality of water. These results provide elements for the design of public health programs through the supply of water for consumption and sanitation services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental fluorosis (DF) is caused by excessive exposure to fluoride during odontogenesis and leads to various changes in the development of tooth enamel. Some regions in Mexico are considered endemic fluorosis zones due to the high fluoride content in drinking water. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the association between the concentration of fluoride in drinking water and the severity of dental fluorosis in northern and western Mexico. Methods: This protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42023401519). The search for information was carried out in the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar databases between January 2015 and October 2023. The overall relative risk was calculated using the inverse of variance approach with the random effects method. The RoB 2.0 tool was used to construct risk plots. Results: Eleven articles were analyzed qualitatively, and most of the included studies presented at least one level of DF severity; six articles were analyzed quantitatively, dividing them into two regions. In North region it was observed a higher prevalence of severe TF cases, corresponding to ≥ TF 5 category (4.78) [3.55, 6.42]. In the West region, most of the included studies presented a higher prevalence of less severe cases, corresponding to ≤ TF 4, in comparison with the North region (0.01) [0.00, 0.52], interpreted as a protective effect. Conclusion: The concentrations of fluorides in drinking water are reportedly high in these regions and are directly related to the severity of dental fluorosis experienced by the inhabitants. In the Northern region exists a major concentration of fluoride in drinking water compared with the Western region as well as a prevalence of higher severity cases of dental fluorosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mexico, the evaluations of environmental flows are regulated by the Mexican Norm NMX-AA-159-SCFI-2012, and they warrant the establishment of water reserves for the environment. However, the pressure or demand for water use limits the establishment of said reserves because their implementation is generally conditioned to water availability. This research aimed to evaluate the changes through time of the variables that serve as a basis for the implementation strategy by the Mexican government. A geographical information system was built with updated information on water availability, conservation values, and pressures for all basins nationwide. Their desired conservation status was analyzed, and the potential reserves were estimated based on the reference values. The results were examined according to the ranking changes in environmental water reserves enactment feasibility and desired conservation status of Mexican basins, the progress achieved to date, and the potential contribution to the conservation of protected areas and their connectivity if the gaps of reserves were implemented. The outcomes point towards an administrative implementation strategy with positive results despite the growing demand for water use, with a change rate higher than the one for the creation of new protected areas. Currently, basins with low demand and high conservation value have the potential to meet people's and the environment's water needs, and contribute to 86% of the goal set by the present administration without affecting water availability. Finally, reserving water in the priority basins would guarantee the legal protection of the flow regime in 48–50% of the hydrographic network (63,760–66,900 km) in a desired conservation status, 43–49% of wetlands of international importance (48,650–49,600 km2) and other protected areas (128,700–136,500 km2) in 85–89% of the global ecoregions represented in Mexico (780,500–852,200 km2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ingeniería del Agua is the property of Universidad Politecnica de Valencia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lake Atotonilco is a shallow saline water body located in the central-west portion of Mexico. The lake is in the low plain of an endorheic watershed. It is shallow, with a large area of surrounding wetlands and serves as a refuge for dozens of native and migratory waterfowl. Its extremely flat morphometric features coupled with the precipitation and runoff regime from the watershed cause significant changes in the lake surface area and storage volume throughout the year. In recent years, the lake has behaved as an intermittent lake, remaining practically dry in June, and reaching its highest storage volume in October. An ecological water volume that the lake must maintain to support its biodiversity was estimated. This minimum lake storage volume can only be achieved if public policies are implemented to rationalize the use of water resources in the basin and to protect the few forest areas that remain in the watershed. Key Words: ecological minimum volume, endorheic watershed, lake bathymetry, playa lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental radioactivity study was performed in unconventional hydrocarbons areas for the first time in Mexico, where four unconventional hydrocarbon exploratory wells (UHEW) are planned. This study assesses natural radiological conditions in areas around UHEW. Equivalent dose rate distribution displayed in Geographic Information System (GIS) had a maximum of 1.83 mSv a−1 and minimum of 0.04 mSv a−1, GIS was also used for introducing land usage, water resources and population occupancy. Measurements of gross alpha and gross beta in water were below the national permissible limits for drinking water 0.5 and 1.0 Bq L−1 respectively, even though samples do not correspond to drinking water. Evaluation of 238U and 226Ra in groundwater were below minimum detectable concentration 1.3 and 1.0 Bq L−1, respectively. This study provides a radiological baseline for the impact of future industrial activities, especially if exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons produces naturally occurring radioactive material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Colorado River supplies water to seven southwestern states and Mexico. It is one of the most stressed river systems in the US. To address sustainability in the Lower Colorado River Basin (LCRB), the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) organized discussion of river operations and diversions among the LCRB states, eventually leading to the 2007 Interim Guidelines (2007-IG) and then to a revised river management structure, the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). Among other features, the DCP increased the severity of reductions, or shortages, in annual water deliveries to the LCRB states (California, Arizona, and Nevada) and Mexico that are triggered by low year-end water levels in Lake Mead. Shortage measures were designed to mitigate the effects of long-term southwestern drought on reservoir levels, perhaps avoiding the worst outcomes for regional water supply while maintaining the energy-generating capability of the Colorado River system. The objective of this study was to evaluate water supply reliability in the LCRB with and without DCP measures and with and without anticipated climate effects. Four combinations of hydrological conditions and management strategies were analyzed. The results show that both 2007-IG and DCP measures will reduce the most severe shortages in Colorado River Water (CRW) supply to the LCRB states and Mexico under historical hydrologic conditions. Neither set of regulating measures insulates the LCRB against drought with anticipated climate change. However, the most distressing low-water projections are predicted to be less frequent and severe with DCP measures in place. The methods used to project the impacts attributable to climate change and the DCP on LCRB water deliveries can be used to anticipate the effects of alternative river management provisions now under consideration for drought mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater salinization is a major threat to the water supply in coastal and arid areas, a threat that is expected to worsen by increased groundwater withdrawals and by global warming. Groundwater quality in Central Mexico may be at risk of salinization due to its arid climate and since groundwater is the primary source for drinking and agriculture water. Only a handful of studies on groundwater salinization have been reported for this region, most constrained to a small area and without trend analyses. To determine the extent of salinization, total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium (Na+), nitrate as nitrogen (NO3-N) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) are commonly used. Available water quality data for about 200 wells, sampled annually between 2012 and 2021, were used to map the spatial distribution of NO3-N, TDS, Na+, and SAR. Upward trends and Spearman correlation were also determined. The study area was subdivided into three sections to estimate the impact of climate and lithologies on groundwater salinity. The results showed that human activities (agriculture) and dissolution of carbonate and evaporite rocks were major sources of salinity, and evaporation an enriching factor. Temporal trends occurred in only a few (about 7%) wells, primarily in NO3-N. The water quality for irrigation was generally good, (SAR < 10 in 95% of samples); however, eight wells contained water hazardous to soil (TDS > 1750 mg L−1 and SAR > 9). The results detected one aquifer with consistently high concentrations and upward trends and eight lesser impacted aquifers. Identifying the wells with upward trends is important in narrowing down the possible causes of their concentration increase with time and to develop strategies that will infuse sustainability to groundwater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of instruments for the administration of water use is a pending issue in both developing and developed countries. UNESCO has published guidance on determining water availability in Latin American and Caribbean countries. We applied this method to the Culiacán River basin, the most significant basin in Mexico for agricultural productivity. We find that surface water availability has been overestimated due to the inclusion of non-physical terms in the water balance equation, miscalculation of natural runoff and the omission of ecological water flow. Thus, unsustainable surface water use is allowed based on a miscalculation of physical water availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental injustice disrupts the human rights of populations. This article focuses on the state of Jalisco, Mexico, a territory in which 70% of human rights violations were recorded in environmental matters between 2016 and 2019. The objective is to analyze the recommendations issued by the Jalisco State Human Rights Commission in terms of violation of the rights to a healthy environment from 2000 to 2022. For this purpose, a qualitative analysis was carried out through newspaper data from this institution, which were systematized in analytical categories according to types of environmental injustice. In addition, three emblematic cases of human rights violations in this area were presented. The findings show that recommendations are linked to situations of contamination of water bodies, lack of water supply, and water privatization; with the loss of biodiversity or with related affectations; and with the poor management of urban solid waste. These problems occur particularly through processes of unequal distribution of environmental impacts and the exclusion of affected people from decision-making. The results show the slow process of recognition at the institutional level to point out the transgression of the right to a healthy environment in Jalisco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper was to demonstrate that the promotion of aquaculture clusters as a policy option for developing tilapia aquaculture in Mexico, resulting from glocal externalities as competitive advantages to the global market, is necessary to further develop the sector. The farmed tilapia clusters were described using data from the Veracruz Aquaculture Census, 2010. We then utilise three theories. Firstly, we focus on North (1955) and Krugman (1995) and find that Economic geography and localisation verified that conglomeration is a function of natural resources and population zones. Secondly, we investigate the Porter value system. Cluster competitive advantage was identified in water availability and water access, electric supply coverage, product presentation, and the local market. Thirdly, we apply the Altenburg and Meyer-Stamer (1999) model to identify cluster type, which classifies typology based on natural resource access and the inputs and technologies commercial balance. The Veracruz Tilapia cluster diagnostic showed an incipient development with remarked opportunity areas, where efforts should be directed, supported by a cluster strategy. However, Mexico and the Port city of Veracruz should diversify their economy. We conclude that adopting a cluster strategy for aquaculture is necessary in Mexico to both increase global competitiveness and to supply the local market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial mats are biologically diverse communities that are analogs to some of the earliest ecosystems on Earth. In this study, we describe a unique transiently hypersaline microbial mat uncovered in a shallow pond within the Cuatro Cienegas Basin (CCB) in northern México. The CCB is an endemism-rich site that harbors living stromatolites that have been studied to understand the conditions of the Precambrian Earth. These microbial mats form elastic domes filled with biogenic gas, and the mats have a relatively large and stable subpopulation of archaea. For this reason, this site has been termed archaean domes (AD). The AD microbial community was analyzed by metagenomics over three seasons. The mat exhibited a highly diverse prokaryotic community dominated by bacteria. Bacterial sequences are represented in 37 phyla, mainly Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, that together comprised >50% of the sequences from the mat. Archaea represented up to 5% of the retrieved sequences, with up to 230 different archaeal species that belong to 5 phyla (Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Korarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota). The archaeal taxa showed low variation despite fluctuations in water and nutrient availability. In addition, predicted functions highlight stress responses to extreme conditions present in the AD, including salinity, pH, and water/drought fluctuation. The observed complexity of the AD mat thriving in high pH and fluctuating water and salt conditions within the CCB provides an extant model of great value for evolutionary studies, as well as a suitable analog to the early Earth and Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the process of the visitation and demarcation of the village of Gueychiapa, in the province of Xilotepec (Mexico), during the stage prior to the elimination of the congregation and reduction of its numbers. It analyses the organization of the territory, the transfer of villages and their position within the congregational order. It also examines the disputes among cattle ranchers, landowners, and beneficiaries of land grants; the Indian villages adjacent to these properties; and the viceregal administration, which was inclined to return the lands in order to reduce the number of congregated villages on them. The documentation consulted provides a glimpse into both the Indigenous villagers' and Spanish and Creole farmers/ranchers' interests in the control and use of resources such as land and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extractivist practices have created environmental and health risks in Mexico. This research addressed the socio-environmental conflict generated by the mega-infrastructure of the Morelos Integral Project (mip). The research carried out an exploratory, genetic-structural, and historical territorial study supported by primary and secondary sources of information. The results obtained are a historical and chronological reconstruction of the social production of the water conflict in Morelos generated by hydro extractivist practices linked to the mip, identification of the current and latent socio-environmental effects of socio-economic and political-administrative activities and processes due to intensive water extraction in Morelos. In addition, the actors and the power relations intertwined within the framework of the mip were identified. In conclusion, the study demonstrated how the intensive extraction and contamination of the water resources of Morelos characterize the mip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The shape of the flower can vary based on the type of pollinator or the environment in which the plant develops. In Vanilla insignis , there are no studies that analyse the shape of the labellum of the flower as has been done in V. planifolia. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the variation in the shape of the labellum of V. insignis through a morphometric analysis in different environmental conditions in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The results showed that there were significant differences in the variables analysed. Principal component analysis and dendrogram analysis reveal that four V. insignis morphotypes were possibly associated with soil water availability conditions because there were significant differences between the variables that define the apical region. In addition, the distribution of the morphotypes corresponded with the presence of humidity regardless of geographical distances such as in the populations of Tenampulco, Puebla and Caobas, Quintana Roo. The presence of these morphotypes allows the development of conservation programmes and genetic improvement of the species of V. insignis and related commercial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, energy and food (WEF) are experiencing significant stress due to an increase in their demand and scarcity, and this situation will worsen in the coming years. For this reason, this paper proposes a WEF nexus index, which consists of 6 indicators of availability and accessibility to measure water, energy and food security. The proposed methodology, based on indicators and a scoring system, allows decision-makers to evaluate the nexus security and implement actions to achieve the sustainability of the three resources by 2050. Models based on deep learning are developed for the projection of the production and consumption of resources for the case study of Mexico. The Long Short-Term Memory and Gated Recurrent Unit networks are considered. Projections for 2050 resulted in water consumption of 121,679 hm3, electricity generation of 772,486 GWh and electricity consumption of 932,764 GWh, while food production will reach 351,802,080 tons. This represents an increase of 51.7% in water consumption, 180.33% in electricity generation, 254.54% in electricity demand and 103.05% in food production, compared to 2010. The WEF nexus index has an upward trend because the accessibility of water and energy will increase by 2050, but their availability will decrease; the opposite is the case in the food sector, where availability will increase and access will decrease. [Display omitted] • Deep learning models were developed for water, energy and food resource forecasting. • An index was developed with 6 indicators of resource availability and accessibility. • A case study from Mexico was addressed. • The predicted data were used in the WEF nexus security assessment towards 2050. • Water and energy availability decrease, while accessibility increases by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To identify the feasibility of the Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale (HWISE), as a tool to assess the experience of Mexican households in relation to water insecurity. Materials and methods. The HWISE scale was integrated in the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición Continua 2021 (Ensanut Continua 2021) and three criteria were used to assess its feasibility: 1) Internal consistency: Cronbach's Alpha test was applied to estimate the correlation among the HWISE scale items. A cut-off points of at least 0.80 was considered as a reliability criterion. 2) Item equivalence for different sociodemographic indicators and 3) Variables associated to water insecurity. Results. The HWISE scale showed: 1) Good reliability or internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.928); 2) equivalent behaviour of the scale's items in urban and rural contexts, as well as in nine regions of the country and by wealth tertiles, and 3) significant associations with predictor variables of water insecurity. Conclusions. The HWISE scale, adapted for Mexico, is appropriate to use to assess the condition of water insecurity in Mexican households. The measurement of water insecurity will allow to feedback public policies that affect water access and availability and to improve the monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal 6: "Clean water and sanitation". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The water balance is the volume of water flowing through the hydrological cycle, and one of its main components is fog. Fog is considered a type of low-lying cloud and is heavily influenced by water bodies, topography, and wind conditions. Fog incorporates water from the atmosphere to the terrestrial surface and for some ecosystems (e.g., cloud forests) represents a great water contribution. In this work, we aimed to answer the following questions: (1) What is the fog-water contribution to the water balance? (2) How does the presence of vegetation affect the water supply to the ecosystem? We took as a case study the Central Mountain Region of Veracruz, in eastern Mexico, and measured components of the water balance; this included precipitation (gross and net), fog water, interception, transpiration, evapotranspiration, and condensation, and we estimated water gain and loss of the water balance. We registered 510 precipitation events distributed throughout the year with three peaks (October, May, and January). Of these, 386 were fog events, 41 were rain events, and 83 were events combining fog and rain. Fog had a substantial contribution of water to the system, with a volume 22 times greater than that of rain (4311.14 mm vs. 197.5 mm). From the total water gain, the highest proportion (91%) was contributed by fog interception. Fog was considered a constant source of moisture throughout the year; however, water intercepted during the dry season was higher (56%) compared with the wet season (36%). Our results highlight the importance of the fog as a source of water for the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the Rocky Mountains in the US to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico, the Colorado River is one of the most managed and monitored rivers in the world. As decreasing river flows from drought and climate change continue to impact the Colorado River Basin, the US federal government, seven US states, and Mexico have signed agreements that would reduce deliveries, including a Drought Contingency Plan (DCP), an agreement among the US states and the Bureau of Reclamation, and Minute 323 (a treaty agreement between the US and Mexico). As part of the DCP, the US Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) committed to increasing conservation efforts to augment storage in Lake Mead. This paper presents an analysis of Reclamation's Decree Accounting Reports that record water deliveries and conservation savings from 1964 to 2019. Overall, this analysis illustrates that (1) the agency has implemented significant conservation actions over the last three decades, (2) the agency has responded to increased accounting needs as dictated by national and international management agreements, (3) some actions have resulted in environmental costs, and (4) future actions could be designed to avoid environmental harms while also augmenting Lake Mead levels. As climate change continues to constrain Colorado River water supply, detailed accounting may help reveal areas for potential efficiencies or demonstrate where the greatest levels of savings have been reached while ensuring that environmental and social benefits are preserved. Over the last 100 years, humans have changed the path and personality of the Colorado River by distributing water to cities, communities, and agricultural fields to support over 40 million people. Throughout the twentieth century, the US federal government, seven US, and Mexico signed agreements enabling development of Colorado River water. By the early 21st century, as it became evident that water demands and climate change were reducing available supplies, these same governments signed agreements to reduce pressure on the river. All these agreements have, in part, been tracked by the US federal agency that manages the river, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), through Decree Accounting Reports. Since 1964, these reports have recorded how water is or is not accounted for that might be important to the future of the river. This paper examines those reports and reveals four main findings: (1) Reclamation has implemented numerous water conservation projects, (2) they have responded to new management agreements, (3) some of their actions have impacted the environment, and (4) there are proactive ways they can reduce environmental impacts and bolster water supplies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: This systematic review of literature purposes to explore the impact of climate change on Mexico's water resources, exploring the impacts and efforts to address the problem as well as their effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach: The researcher relied on several tools to obtain scholarly articles. The primary approach was using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The Journal Impact Factor was an important consideration for the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The work also excluded all journals predating 2009. The work emphasized using journal articles. However, it consulted textbooks and documents from the government and water conservation sources. Contextually the sources with the highest Journal Impact Factor index were selected, paying heed to their relevance to the topic under investigation. Fifty sources out of seventy were included in the systematic review. Findings: Mexico's already strained water resources have been negatively impacted by climate change, behooving the Mexican government to implement various mitigative strategies. However, scholars reported mixed results on the effectiveness of the various policies and programs implemented by the Mexican government. Key impediments to sustainable implementations entailed the political and social contexts surrounding the conservation policies in Mexico. Originality/value: Numerous articles have explored the impact of climate change on Mexico's water resources, but many focus on a specific aspect. This work took a holistic approach, synthesizing multiple impacts and providing a sociological perspective on the effects, mitigation efforts, and implementation challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drought susceptibility of woody saplings may explain their low survival in arid environments. Therefore, it is critical to determine which morphological and physiological traits are more responsive to drought among young plants. This study tested whether plant responses to experimental drought differ between two plant functional groups: the deciduous and evergreen species. We predicted that deciduous species would present a tighter stomatal control under drought, coupled with fast carbon fixation under no stress, tending toward isohydry and faster growth rates than the evergreen species. Using 1-year-old saplings from three evergreen and four deciduous Sonoran Desert tree species, we evaluated their hydraulic and gas exchange traits under three experimental irrigation conditions: high, intermediate and low water availability. We measured CO2 assimilation rates (A), stomatal conductance (g s), the level of iso-anisohydry (as the plant's ability to maintain constant their water potential) and seven morphological and growth-related traits throughout 2 months. Under high water availability, saplings reached their maximum values of A and g s, which were significantly higher for deciduous than evergreen species. Correlations among hydroscape area (HA) and leaf traits positioned species along the iso/anisohydric continuum. Deciduous species presented isohydric characteristics, including low HA, high g s, A and Huber values (HVs), and traits indicative of a faster use of resources, such as low stem-specific density (SSD) and low leaf mass per area (LMA). By contrast, evergreen species showed traits that indicate slow resource use and anisohydric behavior, such as high HA, SSD and LMA, and low g s, A and HVs. Deciduous species drastically reduced gas exchange rates in response to drought, while evergreen maintained low rates independently of drought intensity. Overall, desert saplings showed strategies concordant with the iso-anisohydric continuum and the fast–slow use of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Universitaria is the property of Universidad de Guanajuato/Acta Universitaria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Legado de Arquitectura y Diseño is the property of Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article analyzes the management and administration of water resources in the state of Morelos, Mexico, using the critique of political economy. It highlights the complexity of the economy and politics of water in Morelos due to the water policy implemented during the neoliberal period. The author uses quantitative and qualitative research techniques to support their arguments and points out the centralization and fragmentation of the economy and politics of water resources in Morelos, as well as the lack of consumer participation in the water management process. The Irrigation Units in the state of Morelos are also mentioned, and the creation of a Water Observatory and a special Prosecutor's Office to address water issues in Morelos is proposed. The book also analyzes sustainability discourses and water privatization in Mexico. [Extracted from the article]

This research paper presents a review of the state of the art of desalination in Mexico, with the aim of clarifying the main challenges and opportunity areas for desalination as the main solution to overcome water stress. First, the current situation and forecasts on the availability of water resources in Mexico are described, followed by the main economic, social, and legislative issues of desalination. Mexico's installed capacity for the different desalination technologies and their evolution in recent years was investigated, followed by a comparison with global trends. The current state of research and development in desalination technologies carried out by Mexican institutions was also studied. The results show that membrane technology plants account for 88.85%, while thermal technology plants account for the remaining 11.15%. Although Mexico presented a 240% increase in its desalination capacity in the last 10 years, it has not been enough to overcome water stress, so it is concluded that in the future, it is necessary to increase its capacity in greater proportion, specifically in the areas with greater scarcity, which can be achieved with the joint participation of academy–industry–government through the creation of autonomous organizations, social programs, and/or public policies that promote it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white-lipped peccary (WLP; Tayassu pecari) and the collared peccary (CP; Pecari tajacu) are social ungulates of huge ecological and economic importance. We determined the habitat occupancy for peccaries in a rural community bordering the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Campeche, Mexico. Twenty-eight stratified sampling points were randomly placed in the study area during a rainy and a dry season, where the presence of both peccary species was measured in relation to three ecological variables (habitat type, presence of natural predators, and water availability) and one anthropogenic variable (hunting). Ten sampling points were established with camera traps (total days/camera traps = 2268), and 18 sampling points were plots of 20 m2 to detect feces and/or footprints. To assess the relationship between both species' presence and the selected variables, models of habitat occupancy were constructed using a binary matrix of detection/non-detection using the PRESENCE program. For WLP and CP, the respective estimated occupancy probabilities were 30 and 40% in the rainy season and 88 and 44% in the dry season. Our results suggest that occupancy by WLP is affected by habitat type and predators in the rainy season and by water availability and hunting in the dry season. Conversely, for CP, occupancy is affected by water availability and hunting in the rainy season, and by habitat type and predators in the dry season. Thus, hunting negatively affects the way that WLP occupy specific habitats, such as floodplain forest and medium sub-deciduous forest, particularly during periods of water scarcity when the species is more vulnerable to hunting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Yucatan is a region with a high impact of water contamination since it has a karst type soil favoring contaminants entry into the phreatic level, the only source of freshwater in the area. However, no studies report pesticides in water for human consumption or the risk it represents. The objective of this study was to detect and measure pesticide concentrations in domestic tap water to estimate the risk (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic) to health. A non-probabilistic sampling was applied of 48 tap water sources, and then pesticide detection with solid-phase extraction gas chromatography coupled to the electron capture and flame photometric detectors allowed the estimation of risk through hazard ratios. The present results suggest that aldrin, heptachlor, and β-BHC residues in domestic tap water from Ticul, Yucatan, pose a risk to children's health, particularly for potential carcinogenic risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As water management challenges grow, the use of water planning models become an essential part of water resources management. The overall goal of this research study was to assess the use of water planning models for evaluating water management strategies in Mexico. A total of 36 peer-reviewed modeling efforts were identified in Mexico until July 2021 that aimed to support decision-making processes. Primarily, three processes were supported: water resources planning (53 %), water availability and demand diagnosis (36 %), and conflict resolution (11 %). Most of the case studies addressed are within arid regions facing the most significant water management challenges in the country. Successful modeling practices included stakeholder outreach, collaborative modeling, and reliable, timely and available information. However, the lack of stakeholders involvement, limited knowledge-sharing, data limitations and established stakeholders misconceptions are areas that hinder the usefulness of models. As Mexico is gradually developing, using, and accepting water resources models, it is essential to collaborate within the end-users, stakeholders, and decision-makers in the co-production of models. • A total of 36 water resources modeling efforts were identified in Mexico. • Only eight studies involved stakeholders from beginning to end. • Challenges include stakeholders' misconceptions and overcoming data limitations. • Successful practices included stakeholder outreach and collaborative modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) are detected pollutants in aquatic environments worldwide at concentrations ranging from ng L−1 to µg L−1. Currently, PhAC monitoring is poorly realized in Mexico. This study proposes a priority list of PhACs in Mexican aquatic environments, considering their occurrence and environmental and human health risks. Ecological risks were assessed as Risk Quotients (RQ) values using the PhAC concentrations detected in surface water, obtaining high risks (RQ > 1) against aquatic organisms, especially of naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, acetaminophen, 17β-estradiol , carbamazepine, ketoprofen , caffeine. In contrast, potential human health risks (RQ H) were assessed on the Mexican population using the concentrations quantified in groundwater, demonstrating potential risks (RQ H > 0.2) on the population, particularly of DCF and CBZ. Thus, a priority list of PhACs can be used as a reference for environmental monitoring in Mexican water supplies as well as PhACs monitoring in countries of the Caribbean region and Central America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows the dramatic but probable future evolution of Mexico's largest glacier. Mass and energy balances of this glacier have been previously studied, as well as reconstructions of its evolution up to the present time. In this work, for the first time, the real evolution of the glacier is compared with the first years of models of its future evolution. Two dynamic models of glacier thickness evolution have been developed based on a network of stakes and ground penetrating radar complemented by geometrical characterizations of the glacier bed shape. Calculated mean annual mass balance leads the equilibrium line altitude to be increasingly higher and even higher than that of the mountain summit. Two models that complement each other to describe the how and when of the different states and stages in which the glacier front retracts, the thickness decreases causing the separation of the glacier to finally disappear in the middle of the 21st century. This study provides the first view of a glacier that is about to disappear in Mexico, where the cryosphere represents the best climate proxy for future scenarios of related ecosystems, water availability. [Display omitted] • When will the glaciers disappear from mexico. • How much ice is left on the citlaltepetl, mexico. • What happens to the biggest glacier in mexico. • Is it possible to know the future evolution of a glacier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use in Mexico has dramatically changed in recent decades since deforested lands have been repurposed for agriculture. We evaluated the amphibian taxonomic and functional diversity of a heterogeneous landscape with ten land cover/use types in west-central Mexico. Taxonomic diversity was evaluated with q-order indices, and functional diversity was calculated with three multivariate functional diversity indices by land cover/use. The relationship between amphibian diversity, habitat structure, and environmental variables was analyzed using multidimensional distance-based analyses. Our results showed that most native land cover types exhibited a similar species richness (low values) among the studied crops, except for the riparian habitat surrounded by tropical dry forest (high richness) and secondary vegetation (intermediate richness). Regarding functional diversity, the riparian habitat surrounded by tropical dry forest, sugar cane field, and secondary vegetation had the highest values. The secondary vegetation had more functional groups than other land cover/use types. Despite the lack of a clear spatial pattern of amphibian taxonomic and functional diversity, we determined that attributes such as herbaceous cover and water availability are essential to maintain both facets with high amphibian diversity in the land cover/use types (e.g., secondary vegetation and sugar cane). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coastal Bend (CB), Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), and Wintergarden (WG) subregions of south Texas co‐exist in similar socio‐economic contexts but rely on markedly different water sources (CB: precipitation; LRGV: surface water; WG: groundwater). This has led to unique agricultural practices and municipal policies and reinforced mental models adapted specifically to each subregion, both of which are critical to understanding structural causes behind current water use and future water sustainability. To better stakeholder mental models in each subregion, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with individuals with a significant stake in water resource use and management. Results indicated near unanimous consensus among farmers and other stakeholders that water supply is limited and will be increasingly stressed under continued urban population growth. Farmers expressed concern that it will become more difficult to continue farming if additional water resources are not available, while each subregion expressed their own unique concerns: growing bureaucratic oversight and growing population problems (CB), lack of inflows, poor water quality, and international disputes with Mexico (LRGV), and political subdivision, declining groundwater levels, and information technology costs (WG). Mental models were synthesized based on dominant themes expressed by respondents; we synthesized these into two systems thinking archetypes: Tragedy of the Commons and Success to the Successful. Though it is unreasonable to create blanket region‐wide policies, the adoption of under‐utilized conservation practices coupled to stakeholder outreach remains unexplored leverage points, given most stakeholders are unaware of the feedback processes continuing to threaten south Texas water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought poses significant risks to society, in particular irrigated-crop production, which accounts for a large share of global freshwater use. Given its key role in the production of food, feed and fiber crops, there exists a need for policy measures to prevent and mitigate the impacts of drought on irrigated agriculture. This paper proposes that the design of drought policy should take into account actual farmer behavior in response to water scarcity. To this end, we offer a detailed analysis of land allocation and crop-choice decisions over time in an irrigation district located in the dry plains of Northern Mexico. We find that farmers systematically change their crop mix in response to water availability. In particular, in times of drought, irrigation water flows to higher-yield and higher-price crops (which also require more intense irrigation) to the detriment of less water-demanding (but lower value) crops. Farmers use water with the goal of earning a living—economizing on water per se has no relevance in that context. Policies that do not explicitly recognize this may result in ineffective, inefficient and/or unfair outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize the production systems of the users of Chilhuacán canal waters located in Atlixco, Puebla and to identify the role they play in the persistence of wastewater use in agriculture. Design/Methodology/Approach: A characterization of regional producers was conducted applying a questionnaire and making field visits to the producers’ plots. Results: There are seven types of producers who specialize in different types of crops (forages and vegetables); they also use agricultural areas of different sizes (<3ha, ≥6ha and >6 ha). Limitations/Implications: Wastewater use in agriculture is a recurring phenomenon in the world (including Mexico). As a result of the low water availability, wastewater is used to irrigate crops for human consumption. Findings/Conclusions: The awareness of the producers about the impact of this practice is low and they have no interest in the harmful polluting effects on their plots and their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk of developing injection-related infections, including abscesses. Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are key human rights and services; yet these services have been underexplored as predictors of abscesses among PWID., Methods: Longitudinal analysis was employed among a cohort of PWID to determine if WASH insecurity (lack of access) was associated with abscess incidence in the Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, United States metropolitan area during 24-months of follow-up survey data from 2020 to 2023. We calculated abscess prevalence at baseline and tracked the incidence of new abscesses among individuals without an abscess during the previous visit. Time dependent Cox regression modeling was employed with variance clustered by participant to characterize the relationship between WASH insecurity and abscess incidence., Results: At baseline, hand hygiene insecurity, bathing insecurity in the previous six months and open defecation in the last week, were reported by 60 %, 54 % and 38 % of participants, respectively; 21 % reported an abscess in the last six months. The incidence of abscesses was 24.4 (95 %CI: 21.1-27.6) per 100 person-years. After adjusting for covariates, the hazard of developing an abscess remained significantly elevated among individuals using non-improved (with risk of contamination) water sources (e.g., surface water) for preparing drugs (adjusted HR [adjHR]: 1.49 [95 %CI: 1.01-2.21], experiencing bathing insecurity (adjHR: 1.59 [95 %CI: 1.12-2.24]) and open defecation (adjHR: 1.65 [95 %CI: 1.16-2.35])., Conclusions: PWID in the Tijuana-San Diego metropolitan area reported facing high rates of insecurity accessing WASH services. Abscess incidence was higher (four to nine times) than observed rate among PWID cohorts in other settings. Access to continuously available toilet facilities, bathing infrastructure, and safe water sources for preparing drugs for injection could prevent abscesses among PWID. Accessible WASH infrastructure should be ensured among PWID communities and promoted as a key component of harm reduction infrastructure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Light and water availability are likely to vary over the lifespan of closed-canopy forest trees, with understory trees experiencing greater limitations to growth by light and canopy trees greater limitation due to drought. As drought and shade have opposing effects on isotope discrimination (Δ13C), paired measurement of ring width and Δ13C can potentially be used to differentiate between water and light limitations on tree growth. We tested this approach for Cedrela trees from three tropical forests in Bolivia and Mexico that differ in rainfall and canopy structure. Using lifetime ring width and Δ13C data for trees of up to and over 200 years old, we assessed how controls on tree growth changed from understory to the canopy. Growth and Δ13C are mostly anti-correlated in the understory, but this anti-correlation disappeared or weakened when trees reached the canopy, especially at the wettest site. This indicates that understory growth variation is controlled by photosynthetic carbon assimilation due to variation in light levels. Once trees reached the canopy, inter-annual variation in growth and Δ13C at one of the dry sites showed positive correlations, indicating that inter-annual variation in growth is driven by variation in water stress affecting stomatal conductance. Paired analysis of ring widths and carbon isotopes provides significant insight in what environmental factors control growth over a tree's life; strong light limitations for understory trees in closed-canopy moist forests switched to drought stress for (sub)canopy trees in dry forests. We show that combined isotope and ring width measurements can significantly improve our insights in tree functioning and be used to disentangle limitations due to shade from those due to drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the relationship between urinary fluoride and micronutrients intake we recruited 121 schoolchildren from San Luis Potosí. We evaluated fluoride concentrations in drinking water and urine with the ion-selective electrode method and estimated calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus intakes with a validated consumption frequency questionnaire. About 72% of the population used tap water for drinking and cooking. Fluoride concentrations were 2.36 ± 0.02 mg/L in tap water, 0.14 ± 0.04 mg/L in bottled water and 2.05 ± 0.62 mg/L in urine. Urinary fluoride was higher in children with a consumption <50% of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of calcium (2.20 v/s 1.96 mg/L; p < 0.05), <50% RDI of magnesium (2.58 v/s 1.96 and 1.90 mg/L; p < 0.05) and >150% RDI of phosphorus (2.43 v/s 1.82 mg/L; p < 0.05). These data indicated that fluoride concentration in tap water is higher than bottled water and estimated micronutrients intake is related to urinary fluoride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hydrological systems are important to society as water resources and effective management requires an understanding of how water and humans influence each other. To describe human-water connections it is necessary to bridge social and natural sciences. To this end, we construct an interdisciplinary graphical framework for evaluating potential human-water system resilience, which is a tool to show the spatial and temporal response to system change of both human and natural systems. This helps to identify the ways that human responses to change relate to changing water resources and identifies important thresholds and potential disconnects that would create vulnerability. We further use this tool to describe a dynamic, coupled human-water system present in the arid Sierra de la Giganta region of Baja California Sur, Mexico. In this remote mountain range, there is a community (self-identifying as Choyeros) who rely on spring water for ranching and subsistence. Using mixed methods of hydrogeochemistry and anthropology, we describe spatial connectivity and temporal changes of both hydrologic and social systems. We use these observations to examine the Choyero response to system changes and explore the topology of the various approaches that the community employs to adapt to changing water availability. The framework guides dialogue to constrain the types of policies, strategies, and responses that help to promote the sustainability of water resources. This framework can be used to compare systems across spatio-temporal scales to produce more generalizable and communicable insights of coupled human-natural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]