On January 29, 2026, the Permanent Forum of Binational Waters will host a Coffee Break titled “Reform of the Mexican National Water Law and its implications for shared river basins”. The event features three renowned panelists: Patricia Herrera Ascencio, Director General of the Mexican Institute of Water Technology (IMTA); Mario LĂłpez, Water Resources Engineer and Independent Consultant; and Felipe ArreguĂn CortĂ©s, researcher at the Institute of Engineering, UNAM. The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Samuel Sandoval SolĂs, Professor at the University of California, Davis.
This timely discussion will be focused on the wide-ranging implications of the recently approved Mexican National Water Law, particularly in relation to shared river basins between Mexico and the United States. Panelists will cover how the reform marks a turning point in Mexico’s water governance by establishing procedures to guarantee a more transparent, standardized, and federally controlled process for water rights allocations.
The panel will also explore if the new Mexican National Water Law could enhance binational cooperation. Will this reform imply a clearer legal framework and updated hydrological criteria for water availability and priority,—especially under international treaties like the 1944 Water Treaty? The extent and scope of the reform could benefit from increased predictability and institutional alignment? and many other related topics will be discussed.Â
The event is made possible thanks to the support of institutional allies: the Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI), the North American Development Bank (NADBank), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and California Water Resources Institute.
A full recording of the session will be made available on the Forum’s YouTube channel after the event. This Coffee Break is part of a broader effort by the Forum to promote open dialogue, scientific collaboration, and stronger legal foundations for shared water governance.