President López Obrador lashed out at the production of “caguamas” for the amount of water required, however, there are more industries that consume an exorbitant amount of this liquid
The scarcity of water, not only in the Valley of Mexico but in the whole country, is one of the issues that is currently causing the most concern among Mexicans. For this reason, this morning President Andrés Manuel López Obrador addressed the problem and reported on the actions with which he seeks to meet the demand for this liquid, although he also did not miss the opportunity to criticize one of the industries that spend the most water: the breweries.
And it is that the leader of the Fourth Transformation – in addition to pointing out that the lack of water has been politicized – recalled that there are companies that use thousands of liters of water to produce a single liter of milk or beer.
“To produce beer, for every 100 liters of water … a liter of beer, for every 10 liters of water a caguama!, but not even for internal consumption, first cousin, because they are not going to compare me with the one who does not want them to drink their caguamas … for export, only for export, what is it that is being exported? Water!, there must already be a control”, he said in his usual morning press conference this Wednesday.
In Mexico, the scarcity of water is an issue that has been addressed for years and, with the arrival of certain industries, states such as Baja California Sur, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Mexico City, Aguascalientes and the State of Mexico have faced a situation of water stress.
In this context, it is essential to examine the industries and companies that consume the most water, to understand how their operations impact the water balance and what measures could be taken to mitigate their water footprint.
In Mexico, the industries that require the most water are characterized by their intensive use of the water resource both in productive processes and in the generation of energy. Among these industries are:
Agriculture: It is the sector that consumes the most water in Mexico, using it mainly for crop irrigation. Despite being categorized as a primary activity, its impact on water consumption places it at the forefront of the sectors that demand the most water resources.
Mining: The extraction of minerals involves the use of large amounts of water for processes such as mineral separation, machinery cooling and dust control.
Electricity generation: Particularly hydroelectric and thermoelectric plants, which require water for energy generation, through the cooling of systems and as a driving force for turbines.
Beverage and food industry: This sector uses water not only as the main ingredient of many products, but also in the cleaning and processing of food and beverages.
Chemical and petrochemical industry: Water is essential in these sectors for processes such as cooling, steam production and as a solvent in various chemical reactions. Which are the companies that consume the most water.
Which are the companies that consume the most water
According to various lists that have been published over the years, among the companies that hoard the most water in Mexico in various sectors are:
Coca-Cola FEMSA: Leading bottler in the production and distribution of Coca-Cola brand beverages, including sodas, juices, waters and sports drinks.
Grupo Modelo: Important beer manufacturer, known for global brands such as Corona, in addition to other beer products.
PepsiCo: Multinational food and beverage company, with a wide portfolio that includes carbonated beverages from Pepsi brand, snacks and various foods.
Nestlé: Leading company in the food and beverage sector, with products ranging from dairy, coffee, and bottled water, to pet food.
Heineken México: Outstanding producer and distributor of beers, including international and local brands such as Heineken, Tecate, and Sol.
Bimbo: Main baking group worldwide, offering a wide range of bakery, pastry, and snack products.
Kimberly-Clark: Company specialized in the manufacture and marketing of personal hygiene and care products, such as diapers, toilet paper and wipes.
Arca Continental: One of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in Latin America, distributing carbonated beverages, juices, and waters.
Grupo Bafar: Company focused on the production and marketing of food, especially meat products, in addition to operating in the sector of prepared meals.
Grupo Lala: Company dedicated to the production and distribution of dairy products and their derivatives, such as milk, yogurt and cheese.
In the mining sector, one of the companies highlighted by its size and operations is Grupo México. This company is a leader in the extraction of copper and has a significant presence in the mining of other minerals and metals. Grupo México is recognized not only for its mining production, but also for its activities in transportation and infrastructure. Given the nature of its operations, it consumes large amounts of water, mainly in the processes of extraction, mineral processing and management of mining waste.
In the electricity generation sector in Mexico, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is the predominant company. The CFE is a state-owned company responsible for the generation, transmission, distribution and marketing of electricity in the country. It covers a wide range of generation methods, including thermoelectric, hydroelectric, nuclear, geothermal, wind and solar.
The generation of energy, especially in thermoelectric and hydroelectric plants, requires a significant amount of water. Hydroelectric plants use water to generate electricity through the movement of turbines driven by the flow of water, while thermoelectric plants need water for cooling and steam generation.
Finally, in the chemical and petrochemical industry, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) is the most prominent company. The state-owned company operates throughout the value chain of the oil industry, from the exploration and production of crude oil and gas, to the refining, petrochemical, trade of derived products and logistics. Within its operations, the refining and petrochemical activities are intensive in the use of water, mainly for cooling, treatment and steam generation processes.
Source: Infobae
