MEXICO CITY (AP) -- President Vicente Fox announced Wednesday that his
                 government will present a detailed plan within 15 days for conserving water
                 in northern Mexico and for paying off Mexico's staggering water debt to the
                 United States.

                 The announcement came a day after Fox spoke with President George Bush by
                 telephone and promised Bush that Mexico would comply with a 1944 water sharing
                 treaty.

                 Mexico is facing mounting criticism from farmers and politicians in South Texas
                 who charge that crops in Mexico's upriver Rio Grande watershed are flourishing as
                 crops in South Texas are dying -- allegedly because Mexico has not kept up with its
                 end of the water sharing treaty.

                 According to U.S. members of the International Boundary and Water Commission,
                 Mexico owes 1.4 million acre feet of water -- some 456 billion gallons (1,730
                 liters).

                 Mexican officials have responded that they are unable to send the water because
                 Mexico is also facing a drought that has jeopardized its farmers' crops.

                 Under the water sharing treaty, Mexico receives 1.8 billion acre feet of water a year
                 from the United States, four times the amount it gives to its northern neighbor. An
                 acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, the amount necessary to cover one acre of land one
                 foot deep with water.

                 Mexico recognizes that because it receives more water than it gives, it is important
                 that it comply with its part of the treaty, Fox's office said in a news release.

                 Fox also reiterated Wednesday that a group of experts he appointed in March has
                 been working to develop a plan for Mexico to use its water supply more efficiently
                 and to pay off its water debt to the United States.

                 So far, the group has proposed a package of 34 measures that would cost $500
                 million.

                 Mexico has said it will seek money from the U.S. government and the North
                 American Development Bank to pay for the projects. The San Antonio-based
                 development bank was established by the North American Free Trade Agreement to
                 finance water and waste management projects on both sides of the border.

                 That plan has also drawn criticism from Texans, who say that Mexico should not
                 receive money to rebuild its water facilities after abusing the shared reservoir
                 system for nearly a decade.

                  Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.