WATER AVAILABILITY IN MEXICO CONSIDERING QUANTITY, QUALITY, AND USES

In water supply planning, managers must assess both quantity and quali ty of sources. These assessments require adequate data, which is not a lways available, even in developed countries, and much less so in deve loping countries where the availability of water quality data is espec ially limited. Yet, most developing countries need to expand water sup plies quickly, and methods for rapid assessment, with limited data, ar e needed. A method for such assessments is discussed and its applicati on to Mexico, a rapidly-growing nation with an ambitious plan for the expansion of its water supply, is shown. The paper concludes with sugg estions for how other developing nations can apply the concepts presen ted.