Jalisco Water Crisis: Coparmex's Proposals to Protect Businesses

Jalisco Water Crisis: Coparmex’s Proposals to Protect Businesses

The water crisis in Jalisco presents a challenge that extends beyond domestic supply. The inconsistency in service also compromises the operations of thousands of businesses that rely on this resource for their activities. In light of this situation, the business sector has called for the immediate implementation of measures to mitigate economic impacts alongside infrastructure solutions.

In this regard, the Mexican Employers’ Confederation (Coparmex) Jalisco acknowledged the

reached between Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro, allocating 24.7 billion pesos to strengthen the water infrastructure of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG).

However, the business organization cautioned that new construction alone will not resolve the needs of those currently facing supply interruptions. Therefore, it proposed an immediate action agenda that includes alternative supply mechanisms, timely information, project oversight, and coordinated participation among authorities, businesses, and society.

Coparmex Jalisco’s stance is based on the fact that 112,801 economic units, supporting approximately 820,000 jobs, are located in areas subject to water supply rotation schedules. Of this total, 110,923 are micro and small enterprises, underscoring the potential impact of the water crisis on the state’s productive activity.

According to Luis Beas Gutiérrez, president of Coparmex Jalisco, the coordination between federal and state governments presents an opportunity to move towards structural solutions that improve the quality of life for families and provide greater certainty for the economic development of Guadalajara.

“It is good news that the Federation and the State are joining forces to address such an important need for Jalisco. This agreement allows us to move towards solutions that improve the quality of life for families and provide greater certainty for the development of our city,” he stated.

What Does the 24.7 Billion Peso Investment for Resolving Jalisco’s Water Crisis Entail?

The agreement announced at the National Palace establishes a joint investment of 24.7 billion pesos to develop water conveyance, supply, treatment, and sanitation infrastructure in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.

The distribution of funds includes two governmental contributions:

Federal Government: Will allocate 14.5 billion pesos to water distribution and supply infrastructure.
Jalisco Government: Will contribute 10.2 billion pesos for water treatment and sanitation projects.

Among the main projects announced are the Chapala-Guadalajara and Calderón-San Gaspar aqueducts. Construction is slated to begin in 2027 and is expected to conclude by the end of 2028. These projects aim to enhance the resource’s conveyance and distribution capacity, as well as improve supply conditions for metropolitan municipalities. State investments, meanwhile, will focus on expanding and strengthening the necessary infrastructure for water treatment and sanitation.

Furthermore, Coparmex Jalisco supported Governor Pablo Lemus’s proposal to establish a monitoring and oversight commission for the works. This mechanism would allow for tracking progress, verifying adherence to timelines, and ensuring transparency in the use of public funds.

Business participation in this process could also help identify the needs of productive sectors and assess whether implemented actions adequately address the real conditions of affected areas.

What Coparmex Jalisco Requests to Protect MSMEs and Jobs

While water infrastructure projects are underway, Coparmex deems it essential to address the immediate consequences of supply rotations and interruptions. Its primary concern is for smaller businesses, which have fewer resources to absorb extraordinary costs for acquiring water and maintaining operations.

Based on this assessment, the business organization proposes five lines of action:

Facilitate Alternative Supply for MSMEs: Coparmex requests that small businesses have access to alternative supply mechanisms to continue operating while the service is normalized.
Guarantee Timely Supply Information: The organization considers it crucial for authorities to provide advance communication regarding service conditions and rotation schedules.
Oversee Hydraulic Works Progress: The monitoring commission proposed by the state government should contribute to verifying execution times, ensuring transparency in resource utilization, and communicating project advancements.
Promote Voluntary Participation of Companies with Authorized Wells: Coparmex proposes exploring mechanisms through which companies with properly authorized wells can voluntarily contribute, in coordination with authorities, to supplying families and MSMEs in need.
Promote Responsible Water Use in Homes and Workplaces: It calls for strengthening water conservation practices, preventing the discharge of fats, oils, chemicals, and other waste that could affect drainage systems, and maintaining timely utility payments, acknowledging the difficulties families have faced due to lack of supply.

Luis Beas Gutiérrez emphasized that guaranteeing access to water also means protecting the continuity of economic activities and jobs.

“For thousands of businesses, having water is essential for daily operations. Therefore, while long-term solutions are being developed, we must also address immediate needs. Safeguarding the continuity of productive activities means protecting the jobs of Jaliscians,” he stated.

Finally, Coparmex Jalisco reiterated its willingness to participate with proposals and follow up on the actions announced by the authorities. The organization believes that coordination among the Federation, the State, the private sector, and society will be decisive in building a sustainable solution.

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Jalisco Water Crisis: Coparmex's Proposals to Protect Businesses