Mexico's watersheds have deteriorated in recent years, threatening environmental health across vast areas, warn non-governmental groups. A study of three watersheds, conducted over five years by the environmental group WWF-Mexico and the Gonzalo Río Arronte Foundation, found that the number of overexploited aquifers jumped from 32 to 101 in the last 30 years. Mexico has 678 aquifers.

“There are three serious problems: overexploitation, contamination and waste of water,” Eugenio Barrios, director of WWF-Mexico's watershed integrated management program, told Tierramérica.

The study, released Oct. 20, also found that 73 percent of Mexico's bodies of water are contaminated.

One of the consequences of the associated ecological damage is the loss of species, especially fish, said Barrios.