Critical points in a New Institutional Design for Water Management in Mexico

Since 2018, discussion about renewing the institutional framework for water management in Mexico has increased. Once accessibility to water was recognized as a human right in the national Constitution, it was established that a new General Water Law should be published by February 2013. A new federal law for water issues has been expected for more than ten years. With a left-wing government installed in the presidency, a new vision about water resources emphasizing its public character should be expected. This paper discusses the key elements that should be considered in a new water law. The research question is: Which critical points should be included in a new institutional design for water management in Mexico? With the local water crisis increasing along the national territory, and a water law that has been in force for more than thirty years, the need for a new institutional design becomes more urgent. We analyze three bill proposals through the grammar of institutions proposed by Ostrom and Crawford and applying content analysis supported by MAXQDA software. Findings include the identification of differences and coincidences between the three bill initiatives and the core regulatory elements that need to be included in any General Water Law.