McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- The clock is ticking down on Mexico's deadline this month to pay the United States water it owes under a 1944 international treaty.

So far, Mexico has paid less than half what it owes during this five-year cycle, which ends on Oct. 25.

Former McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, chairman of the Region M Water Planning Group, says Mexico has the water due to recent rains. But it hasn't paid the United States, and specifically South Texas.

“They do owe it and you don’t want to let them slide or they’ll never pay it back. So, you got the water you should pay it back," Darling told Border Report on Tuesday.

The Region M Water Planning Group met Tuesday for several hours. They represent eight South Texas counties from Cameron, on the Gulf, to Maverick, which includes

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