Saltwater in the Rio Grande is affecting Valley farmers.

At a Wednesday meeting with federal officials, Valley farmer Jim Wells discussed the need for repairs to the El Morillo Drain, saying the issue of high salt of the river is ruining fields in the Valley.

“We need emergency assistance immediately," Wells said. 

Approved in 1965, the drain in Mexico catches water runoffs from Mexican farm fields that’s high in salt content to prevent it from going into the Rio Grande.

The drain runs from Reynosa southeast to the Mexican Laguna Madre, and is in need of repairs and cleaning.

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Maria-Elena Giner, commissioner with the International Boundary and Water Commission, says with the water supply problem, the agency is now considering all options to increase efficiency, conservation and possible new sources of water. 

One idea is to rebuild the drain and include systems to remove the salt, so Mexican communities can have more water. 

“It's harming our soils, and we have a structure in Mexico that's not functioning the way it should," Hidalgo County Irrigation District #2 Manager Sonny Hinojosa said. "And I don't know if these agencies that were here today can assist or not, but it is the IBWC's responsibility, and their counterpart in Mexico - CILA.”

The IBWC said a study on the costs to fix the drain to turn the salt water into drinking water is completed.

Giner said it’ll cost $8 million to repair the drain, or $27 million to repair and expand it by a third.