🚨 324,000 to 420,000 ACRE-FEET OF WATER IS COMING TO THE RGV — BUT FROM WHERE, AND AT WHAT COST? 

At a recent press conference in Mission, U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz proudly announced that Mexico will finally uphold its water obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty — delivering between 324,000 and 420,000 acre-feet of water to South Texas through October. On paper, that’s a win for struggling farmers and ranchers. But there’s one problem no one is addressing…

💧 This water is coming from tributaries in Mexico that are already polluted.

That’s right. The rivers feeding this emergency water transfer — including the Río Conchos, Río San Rodrigo, Río Escondido, Río Salado, Arroyo de las Vacas, and Río San Diego — have a documented history of chemical contamination, fish kills, and industrial runoff.

🧪 Here’s what we know:

Río Conchos has been found to contain manganese and other heavy metals linked to neurological damage — particularly harmful to infants and children.

Río Escondido has seen fish die-offs due to pollution, with local reports linking it to industrial discharge.

Río Salado has suffered similar environmental damage, threatening water quality downstream. Source

Other tributaries suffer from material over-extraction, waste dumping, and the complete collapse of water ecosystems.
 

These are not isolated events — they are systemic. And now, hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water from these sources are heading toward our irrigation canals, our crops, and our communities.

🌊 What does that mean for the Rio Grande Valley?

👉 This water may be sufficient in volume but toxic in quality.

👉 Farmers may irrigate fields with water containing trace chemicals and biohazards.

👉 Communities with colonia water lines — many of which already don’t trust the tap — may unknowingly be exposed to contaminated flows.

👉 The long-term effects could be public health crises, crop failures, or environmental damage buried under the headline of “short-term stability.”

Yes — this delivery meets treaty terms.

But does it meet safety standards?

Does it honor the communities who have already suffered too long from infrastructure failure?

We need answers. We need transparency.

And most importantly — we need to test what’s coming before it gets here.