Water becomes an increasingly scarce resource worldwide due to overuse and environmental pollution. Baja California water crisis is associated with the two main water resources – the Colorado and Rio Grande, which are shared by the United States and Mexico (www#2). The drought in Ensenada occurs within the last several years, which threatens not only agriculture but also everyday needs of the populations.
Historically, the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993 was the cause that led to the flow of various companies into the region (www#1). The border cities and manufactures expanded, consuming enormous water resources to produce for export. The brewery that is being constructed near the cities of Mexicali and Gallegos by a large corporation is the example of the fact that the situation tends to worsen.
The impact on both the population and the ecosystem is extremely negative since scarce water resource restricts washing, drinking, and watering. The farmers are especially concerned with the threat of crop failure, while drought can also violate the natural mechanisms of ecosystems. It is assumed that those ecosystems that have not gone through a full recovery cycle will in the future begin to destroy.
Wastewater treatment is suggested as the most cost-effective solution in the event of a water crisis. California needs a long-term transition from industrial agriculture to stable local farming, in which farmers grow and sell food only to those who live in their area (www#3). A more concise use of water by manufacturers is another potential solution. The key controversy related to Baja California water crisis is that corporations want to increase their profit and remain on the region, while the farmers and people understand that it would cause more negative outcomes.
Works Cited
Agren, David. “Mexico Protesters Fear US-Owned Brewery Will Drain Their Land Dry.” The Guardian. 2018. Web.
“Baja California Residents Suffering Water Crisis.” BNAmericas. 2016. Web.
Dibble, Sandra. “Baja California Farmers Confront Prospect of Water Shortage.” Los Angeles Times, 2015. Web.