1

State of Water Infrastructure 

in the US-Mexico Border 

Region

Development and Certification of 

Environmental Infrastructure Projects

Good Neighbor Environmental Board

March 22, 2012

Border Environment Cooperation Commission
US–Mexico Border Environment 

Cooperation Agreement

“Preserve, protect, and enhance US-MX border region by 

identifying, developing, implementing and overseeing 

environmental infrastructure projects.”

A project that will “prevent, control or reduce environmental 

pollutants or contaminants, improve the drinking water supply, or 

protect flora and fauna so as to improve human health, promote 

sustainable development, or contribute to a higher quality of life.

Projects certified by the BECC are financed by 

the NADB or other institutions

Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC)

North American Development Bank (NADBank)
Jurisdiction

100 km north (population 13.9

million) and 300 km south 

(population 16.6 million) of the 

international boundary.

Projects beyond these areas may 

be eligible if they remedy a crossborder environmental or health 

problem.

BASIC SECTORS

• Water pollution

• Wastewater treatment

• Water conservation

• Municipal solid waste

• Industrial and hazardous waste

• Recycling and waste reduction

EXPANDED SECTORS

• Air quality

• Clean and efficient energy

• Public transportation 

• Municipal planning and development

• International border crossings

• Energy transmission / distribution of energy

• Production of goods / services to enhance or 

protect the environment, if the project provides a 

net environmental benefit to the region

• Other infrastructure designed to minimize future 

negative environmental impacts in the region

BECC Overview – Mandate Scope
California, 14

$ 254.66

Arizona, 15

$ 168.11

New Mexico, 9

$ 67.74

Texas, 48

$ 847.28

87 in U.S.

$ 1,337.79

104 in México

$ 3,005.46

Sonora, 27

$ 559.43

Coahuila, 3

$ 156.60

Nuevo León, 5

$ 105.71

Baja California, 29

$ 1,217.90

Tamaulipas, 16

$ 623.80

Certified Projects (US$M)

Chihuahua, 24

$ 342.02

CERTIFIED PROJECTS 191

TOTAL INVESTMENT (BD) $4.343

NADB FINANCED PROJECTS* 152

NADB FINANCING* (BD) $1.326

POPULATION BENEFITED (M) 13.8

*Only contracted agreements are 

included, not total approvals.
Technical Assistance and Training

California

$ 2.72

Arizona

$ 4.42

New Mexico

$ 4.32

Texas

$ 13.72

Sonora

$ 3.82 Coahuila

$ 1.32

Nuevo León

$ 0.51

Baja California

$ 2.31 Chihuahua

$ 3.01

Tamaulipas

$ 4.04

• 2011: US$1.00 million - (19 projects, 

21% BECC TA) 

• 1995-2011: PDAP/COCEF - US$40.34 

million

• 72 communities in Mexico: US$15.01 

million

• 90 communities in US: US$25.33 

million

• More than US$34 million in PDAP

technical assistance grants for 

project development in 155+ 

communities. 

• Approximately 85% of these funds 

have led to projects already 

implemented or under development.

2011 Training

5 events (Solid Waste Workshop in Hermosillo, 

Sonora and Reynosa, Tamaulipas; Water and 

Wastewater Training in Sonora; Second and Third 

Modules of the State Climate Action Plans 

Workshop)

• 325 attendees

• US$130,000 investment

Training events supported by EPA, TCEQ, 

Conagua, INE and SEMARNAT
State of Water Infrastructure

• Needs Assessments

• Needs vs Investment Resources

• Sustainable Development
Needs Assessments
Services Coverage (%) 100 Km Region

Wastewater treatment coverage in the Mexican border region increased from

21% to 82% between 1995 and 2009; while the current national average is

approximately 42%
Infrastructure Needs – MX

Drinking 

Water 

infrastructure 

needs(million 

dollars) 

Sewer 

infrastructure 

needs 

(million 

dollars) 

Wastewater 

treatment 

infrastructure 

needs (million 

dollars) 

Solid waste 

infrastructure needs 

(million dollars) 

100 km 5 $ 42.81 $ 56.51 $ 85.70 $ 108.09 $ 293.10

200 a 300 km 0 - - $ - $ - $ -

5 42.81 56.51 85.70 108.09 $ 293.10

100 km 27 $ 15.44 $ 12.05 $ 53.93 $ 12.15 $ 93.57

200 to 300 km 31 $ 7.67 $ 10.86 $ 102.22 $ 13.86 $ 134.62

58 $ 23.12 $ 22.91 $ 156.14 $ 26.01 $ 228.18

100 km 14 $ 10.62 $ 9.11 $ 23.25 $ 30.89 $ 73.87

200 to 300 km 32 $ 12.98 $ 15.74 $ 81.77 $ 28.94 $ 139.43

46 $ 23.60 $ 24.85 $ 105.03 $ 59.83 $ 213.31

100 km 17 $ 5.71 $ 15.04 $ 40.17 $ 8.81 $ 69.75

200 to 300 km 18 $ 17.62 $ 22.31 $ 158.11 $ 22.66 $ 220.70

35 $ 23.34 $ 37.35 $ 198.28 $ 31.47 $ 290.44

100 km 19 $ 8.48 $ 5.53 $ 2.25 $ 3.08 $ 19.35

200 to 300 km 31 $ 38.44 $ 27.75 $ 11.76 $ 93.56 $ 171.51

50 $ 46.93 $ 33.28 $ 14.01 $ 96.64 $ 190.86

100 km 12 $ 25.92 $ 47.92 $ 54.64 $ 30.91 $ 159.38

200 to 300 km 18 $ 10.03 $ 30.00 $ 44.28 $ 8.74 $ 93.04

30 $ 35.95 $ 77.91 $ 98.91 $ 39.64 $ 252.42

224 $ 195.74 $ 252.81 $ 658.07 $ 361.69 $ 1,468.31

Sonora

Sub-Total Sonora:

Chihuahua

Sub-Total Chihuahua:

Coahuila

Sub-Total Coahuila:

Nuevo León

Sub-Total Nuevo León:

Tamaulipas

Sub-Total Tamaulipas:

Total BECC border region 

Total (million 

dollars)

Baja California

Infrastructure needs (million dollars)

Sub-Total BC:

State BECC zone 100 or 300 

km

Number of 

Municipios
Infrastructure Needs – US

Challenges in Assessing Infrastructure

• Difficult to define “coverage” since some individual on-site 

water or wastewater systems adequately meet need

• Official Federal sources (census) and many States do not 

collect and manage data related to connections to 

centralized services or other means of accessing potable 

drinking water or adequate wastewater disposal

• Federal sources such as Clean Water Needs Survey depend 

on States to report County level data; Data reported 

represents requests for planned capital improvement needs 

which may or may not include new service

• BECC assessment reflects a macro level analysis – county 

level vs community level and info gaps are met with CWNS
Infrastructure Needs – US

• Cost per Household Connection Assumptions

– Rural DW Hook-up - $7,400

– Rural WW Connection - $12,000

While the primary gap in centralized service coverage primarily exists 

in the rural setting, an investment may likely be required whether 

connecting to a centralized system or making improvements to 

address drinking water quality or adequate on-site ww disposal.
Infrastructure Needs vs Resources

US-Mexico Border Program (EPA-funded Program for PDAP and 

BEIF): Water and Wastewater Projects 

NADB’s Loan Programs for construction applicable to water, 

wastewater, solid waste, air quality, and energy. Includes Bank’s role 

as financial & institutional advisor and as investment banker

Community Assistance Program (CAP) – Funding priority for water, 

wastewater, and solid waste project for economically-distressed 

communities; $500,000 maximum grant.

Technical Assistance Programs for all sectors BECC and NADB provide 

grant assistance to project sponsors for institutional strengthening 

and project development studies.

Institutional Capacity Building: BECC and NADB provide training to 

project sponsors for institutional strengthening through Sector 

workshops and Utility Management Institute.

Border 2012 and Special Grants (EPA-funded Program): Address 

Border 2012 objectives
Infrastructure Needs vs Resources

• PDAP/BEIF Prioritization Process documents 

needs on a regular basis (generally a 2-year 

cycle).

•Needs are prioritized according to the 

severity of human health and 

environmental conditions to be addressed 

by the project.

•All projects if not addressed can have 

serious consequences.

• Fewer than 1/3 of the applications submitted 

for prioritization have accessed BEIF, due to 

insufficient funding availability from the 

program.

•A funding trend of $10M/year will not 

provide sufficient resources to meet the 

critical needs still existing for water 

infrastructure in the region.
Sustainable Development - Water

• Green Building Guidelines

• Water Management:

• Demand Management; Conservation 

Practices; Financial Sustainability

• Energy Management: 

• Energy Efficiency; Capacity 

Strengthening; Renewable Energy

Potential Impact: Improved Resource 

Management, Reduced Operational Costs, 

Reduced Greenhouse Gases

FOCUS: Water Infrastructure Strategies
Sustainable Development - Water

• Key sustainability principles for applying green building 

concepts, include:

– Designing for Operating Efficiency

– Seeking to Not Overbuild

– Using Local Materials

– Looking Beyond Initial Costs

• Support the achievement of an efficient use of 

resources - energy, water, and materials.

• In coordination with EPA, BECC developed a set of 

guidelines to incorporate green building 

decision-factors in all phases of the 

project cycle.

Environment

Economic Social

Sustainability
Sustainable Development - Water

• Planned Development / Demand Management

– Diversifying Water Supply 

(Binational Impacts)

– Regionalization

– Storm Water Management

• Investment in Rehab and Replacement 

– Leak Detection and Meter Replacement

– High-Efficiency Equipment

• Conservation and 

Drought-Management 

Plans
Sustainable Development - Water

• Enhanced Pollution Prevention 

and Re-Use Capability

• Sustainable Rate Structures & Reserve 

Practices

• Outreach, Education and Inter-relating other 

Sectors (waste management – 3 Rs)

• Influencing Sustainable Agriculture Practices

– Modernization of Irrigation & Crop Management

– Improved Delivery Services 

– Policy Support
Sustainable Development - Water

• Demand Reduction

• Water Resource Management

• Capacity Strengthening

• Energy Audits

• Facility and Process Lighting

• Equipment Replacement 

• Load Management / SMART software

• Clean and Renewable Energy: 

• Wind, Solar

• Biomass

Energy Management
• Sufficient Investment in Planning

• Needs Assessments

• Field Surveys – Texas and Arizona

• Improved State Data Collection and Management Systems

• Quantification of Rehabilitation and Replacement Needs

• Master Plan Investments

• Funding Source Collaboration

• Self-sustaining Utilities

• Water/Energy Efficiency - Audits

• Alternative sources of energy – Self supply / Renewable Energy

• Enhanced Rate Structures / Connecting Households

• Capacity building (institutional strengthening) at all levels – “Best 

practices”

• New and Leveraged Program Resources

• US-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program

• State and Federal Program Enhancement

Water Infrastructure Investment Strategy
Contact:

Maria Elena Giner, P.E.

General Manager

mginer@cocef.org

Renata Manning-Gbogbo

Projects Director

rmanning@cocef.org

COCEF, Ciudad Juárez, Chih., Mexico

 (656) 688-4600