Abstract

Mexico is rich in ancient and traditional technologies (dating back to the Aztecs and Mayas) on natural resources management; however, a growing demand for water and increasing costs of water supply for domestic use and agriculture production are resulting in a need for Mexicans to maximize the use of diverse water supplies.

In the near future it will be necessary to reinforce programs and projects to face the increasing demand for water and to avoid serious social problems.

Mexico, a country with 200 million hectares, an average annual rainfall of 700 mm and a population of 100 million people, has 1 400 000 million m³ water from rainfall. This gives an annual average of 14 000 m³/person, enough for domestic use and agriculture production.

Currently different water catchment systems are used in Mexico: 1) for domestic use (water collection from roofs and paved land surfaces) and 2) for agriculture production (microcatchments, contour ridges, trapezoidal bunds, permeable rock dams, water spreading bunds, contour stone bunds and others).