Desalinization and Wastewater Reuse as Technological Alternatives in an Arid, Tourism Booming Region of Mexico

Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, is one of Mexico´s most popular tourist destinations. With 25% of the state´s population, it has one of the highest population growth rates in the country mostly due to large-scale tourism development. Economic and population growth mean greater water consumption. The region´s main water source is the San José aquifer is overexploited. Private desalinization plants as well as wastewater reclamation plants are becoming important alternative technologies for water management at resort hotels. The projections for population growth and water consumption in the region are alarming. Clearly, there is an urgent need to design renewable resources management strategies, diversify technological alternatives, and design public policies to face the challenges of the futur