Exploring inequalities in access to water in rural localities of Mexico

Abstract

Continuous access to safe drinking water in sufficient quantities is a fundamental human right for ensuring a dignified life. Nevertheless, significant inequalities in its provision persist worldwide; approximately one in three people still lack access to this resource. In the case of Mexico, the problem is particularly acute in rural areas, where 9,843 small localities (29%) with populations between 100 and 499 inhabitants and 5,720 big localities (38%) with populations between 500 and 2,499 inhabitants do not have piped water, highlighting a structural challenge for the country’s rural development. This article analyzes territorial inequality in the supply of piped water in rural localities. Using a truncated-variable econometric model, the study identifies the sociodemographic, environmental, economic, and infrastructure determinants that influence the lack of access to safe drinking water. Data from the 2020 Census of Population and Housing were used, grouping localities into two categories: small and big localities. The results show that the infrastructure component—especially electricity—and environmental factors, particularly contamination of water sources and drought damage, are the main factors influencing the lack of piped water. The findings for intervention policies, especially in larger localities, reveal the need to protect water sources as a potential constraint on access to water, an issue that overlaps with the structural inequalities already present in rural Mexico.