Zapopan, Jalisco; July 21, 2026.— With the aim of generating proposals to address the water crisis and improve water quality in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG), the Center for Hydro-Adaptive Cities at the National Institute of Water and Sanitation ( Universidad Panamericana ) organized the Citizens’ Congress for Water Quality, a forum for dialogue that brought together researchers, specialists, government officials, civil society organizations, citizens, and students from the Federal Institute of Technology in Guadalajara ( Universidad Panamericana), the University of Guadalajara, the Monterrey Institute of Technology (Tecnológico de Monterrey), ITESO, and the Autonomous University of Guadalajara.
The meeting, held in the Aula Magna at the Guadalajara campus of theUniversidad Panamericana , provided an opportunity to analyze the main challenges related to water infrastructure, water treatment, water governance, and citizen participation to ensure a high-quality service.
Research and Dialogue to Address the Water Crisis
The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Daniela Salgado Gutiérrez, director of research at the Guadalajara campus of the National Autonomous University of Guadalajara ( Universidad Panamericana ), who emphasized that university research must address social challenges through interdisciplinary dialogue.
Quoting Alejandro Llano, the former president of the University of Navarra, he noted that innovation is essential to avoid stagnation and find solutions to complex problems such as water management.
“We universities are committed to the truth, the common good, reality, and the humanization of our society’s present and future,” he said.
He also emphasized that the management, distribution, access, protection, and conservation of water require collaboration among academia, the public, and public institutions.
Water Infrastructure: One of the Main Challenges
The first conference, "Deterioration of Water Quality in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area: Structural Causes and Guidelines for Solutions,", was presented by Dr. José Arturo Gleason Espíndola, a researcher at the University of Guadalajara.
During his presentation, he explained how the rapid growth of the metropolitan area and the aging water infrastructure have exacerbated problems with the distribution and quality of the water supplied to thousands of households.
Using maps, satellite images, and technical analyses, he illustrated the current state of the water supply network and the factors affecting service.
Water Service Quality Index Unveiled
One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of the Water Service Quality Index (ICSA), developed by the Center for Hydro-Adaptive Cities at the Universidad Panamericana.
The study, presented by its director, Dr. Hugo Briseño Ramírez, evaluates aspects such as:
- Service continuity.
- Adequacy of supply.
- Institutional response.
- Water quality in homes.
The index compares public perception in Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mérida, and showed that the water utility in Guadalajara received the lowest rating among the three cities evaluated.
Solutions for Improving Water Quality
This was followed by a panel discussion Technical Solutions and Infrastructure: How to Treat Water Today and Tomorrow?, featuring the following participants:
- Dr. Carlos Javier Escudero Santiago, Autonomous University of Guadalajara.
- Dr. Héctor Alfonso Barrios Piña, Tecnológico de Monterrey.
- Carlos Ornelas Orozco, M.A., Center for Hydro-Adaptive Cities at the National Autonomous University of Mexico ( Universidad Panamericana).
The experts analyzed alternatives for improving water supply, treatment, and sanitation through new technologies and infrastructure. Dr. Carlos Javier Escudero discussed advanced oxidation processes, while Dr. Héctor Barrios reflected on the points within the water infrastructure where water becomes undrinkable and how those areas should be reinforced.
Among the proposals discussed at this panel discussion, one that stood out was the push to promote the reuse of treated water through so-called “purple lines”—independent networks designed to supply water for irrigation, industry, and other non-potable uses.
Carlos Ornelas explained that this model represents an efficient alternative in the face of the growing shortage of drinking water. He noted that in Mexico, approximately 60 percent of collected municipal wastewater is treated, placing the country in “second place worldwide, after China, in terms of irrigation with untreated wastewater.”
In light of this, he highlighted international success stories such as Namibia—a pioneer in direct reuse since 1968—Singapore, with its NeWater program, and Israel.
He also highlighted projects carried out in Jalisco, such as the purple line of the El Salto industrial corridor, and emphasized that treated water can be more cost-effective than water extracted from wells.
The Benefits of Collaboration
The conference also featured a panel discussion on public-private partnerships as a tool for developing water infrastructure.
Participants in this session included Dr. Rodrigo Navarro Guerrero, president of the Jalisco Water Advisory Council, and Abelardo Arroyo Rincón, M.A., a World Bank specialist, who both agreed on the importance of strengthening projects that are transparent, technically viable, and grounded in local knowledge.
Both experts emphasized that these types of schemes make it possible to improve infrastructure without the government losing control over public services.
Finally, Mr. Arroyo Rincón recommended that governments conduct transparent bidding processes, emphasizing the importance of drawing on “local knowledge” when structuring projects.
Citizen Participation to Strengthen Water Governance
The event concluded with two presentations focused on the role of citizens. Josué Daniel Sánchez Tapetillo, M.A., presented the talk "Citizen Oversight as a Tool for Monitoring SIAPA", while Dr. Ligia García Béjar, dean of the School of Education and Psychology at the Universidad Panamericana , Guadalajara Campus, delivered the lecture "Communicating to Mobilize: Turning Outrage into Action".
During her presentation, the scholar explained how the public’s growing interest in water quality can evolve into a social movement that drives collective solutions, always prioritizing informed dialogue and avoiding the politicization of the issue.
UP Guadalajara Promotes Research to Address the Water Crisis
Through initiatives such as the Citizens’ Congress on Water Quality, the Center for Hydro-Adaptive Cities at the National Autonomous University of Mexico ( Universidad Panamericana ) reaffirms its commitment to applied research, knowledge generation, and dialogue among academia, government authorities, and society to contribute to innovative solutions for one of Mexico’s major environmental challenges: ensuring access to quality water for the population.
Learn more about the Center for Water-Adaptive Cities: https://ciudadeshidroadaptativas.up.edu.mx/
