A CRISIS OF WATER IN MEXICO CITY
The city’s struggle with water scarcity is not a new phenomenon, however, recent developments have exacerbated the situation, leading to heightened concern among citizens and o-cials alike.
Speaking on the television program PBS News Hour, Nation Public Radio reporter Emily Green described a recent visit to Ecatepec de Morelos in the greater Mexico City area.
“In this neighborhood, they haven't had running water for two years now,” Green said. “And the running water that they do have, it comes out and it looks dark brown, and it smelled like sewage.”
At the heart of the crisis is the Cutzamala water system, which supplies about 25% of the water used by the Valley of Mexico, including Mexico City. Due to severe drought conditions, this system currently operates at around 39% capacity, a historic low that has prompted the national water commission, Conagua, to restrict water distribution by up to 25% in an effort to conserve the dwindling supply. The rest of the city’s water is sourced from underground aquifers and reservoirs outside the city, but this method is highly ine-cient, with approximately 40% of the water lost to leaks during transit.
Residents in various neighborhoods have reported going without tap water for months, resorting to collecting water in buckets and trashcans from trucks, a stopgap measure that underscores the gravity of the situation. In some areas, con+icts have arisen over the limited supplies, highlighting the desperate conditions faced by those affected.
The crisis is compounded by a combination of natural and man-made factors. Climate change has led to drier conditions and less predictable rainfall patterns, putting additional pressure on the city's already strained water resources. The city’s geography, with its high altitude and location on a former lake bed, further complicates water distribution and conservation efforts. Urban development and sprawling infrastructure have made the area prone to +ooding during the rainy season, preventing rainwater from replenishing the aquifer.
Historians believe the root the problem goes back centuries, to the time of the conquistadors. When Mexico City was founded in the 1300s the area was a water paradise, with the city on an island in Lake Texcoco and numerous canals for transportation and irrigation. But the Spanish drained the lake for strategic reasons and in a misguided attempt to control +ooding. More than 30,000 people are believed to have died from drowning and disease when rains brought on +oods that lasted for 8ve years.
Some three hundred years later, in the 20th Century, the Mexican government exacerbated the problem by 8lling in and paving over dozens of rivers, hoping to control water borne illnesses while creating more room for building and for automobile tra-c. The result was making Mexico City an even drier place.
Efforts to address the crisis include reducing the +ow from the Cutzamala system and urging residents to conserve water. Mexico City's government and the Water Systems of Mexico City (SACMEX) have invested millions in water recovery initiatives and infrastructure projects aimed at mitigating the situation. Despite these efforts, experts warn that without signi8cant changes to water use patterns and a concerted effort to 8x the leaky distribution network, Mexico City could face a "day zero" scenario where taps run dry for large parts of the city.
The water crisis in Mexico City serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, climate change, and resource management. As the city works to navigate these challenges, the situation underscores the need for sustainable water management practices and infrastructure improvements to ensure a reliable water supply for all residents. (La Semana)