UNAM, IPN and civil association sign alliance for water care

Mexico, Nov. 7 (Notimex).- The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM, for its acronym in Spanish), the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN, for its acronym in Spanish) and the civil association "2050 The hydrological balance counts", will develop programs and strategies that help reduce overexploitation of the aquifer of the Valley of Mexico, and contribute to the care of water. To this end, a collaboration agreement was signed by the rector of UNAM, Enrique Graue; the general director of the IPN, Mario Alberto Rodríguez, and the president of the Board of Directors of said association, Guillermo Guerrero. In a statement, the country's highest house of studies pointed out that this aquifer has an overexploitation of almost 24 cubic meters per second, which leads to subsidence, broken pipes, water loss and effects on drainage, among other problems. "Wejoin forces and fulfill the mission of both educational institutions. In our Organic Law it is clear that we must collaborate to solve the problems of the country and, in the case of the IPN, put the technique at the service of the country. We expect results for the welfare of Mexico," said the rector of UNAM. He indicated that to develop proposals that help address the current water problem and create an awareness of the rational use of water, the participation of the Coordination of Scientific Research of the UNAM, the Humanities, and the University Program of Studies on the city will be required, among other entities. Meanwhile, Mario Alberto Rodríguez stressed that this alliance is fundamental, because according to the National Water Commission, by the year 2030 some regions will face a shortage condition when receiving levels close to or less than one thousand cubic meters per inhabitant. For the IPN, he added, priority is given to research, inter-institutional coordination and care for the environment, and water is an issue of singular importance. Therefore, at the end of the year they will inaugurate the National Laboratory of Science, Technology and Integrated Water Management. At the RectorTower, Guillermo Guerrero explained that the civil association proposes to form a multidisciplinary group that elaborates a strategic program for the management of the aquifer of the Valley of Mexico, that is adopted by diverse governmental instances of the Mexico City, Hidalgo and the State of Mexico. "We celebrate the participation of the UNAM and the IPN, which will contribute with the knowledge of their researchers, professors and students to this cause that seeks the benefit for the inhabitants of the Valley of Mexico and for other cities of the country that have similar problems," he added. For this initiative, he said, there are donations from various foundations, which will allow progress in concrete actions. NTX/SGR/JCG