Mexico City is on the brink of a severe water crisis, with the possibility of large parts of the city running dry in the coming months. The city, home to approximately 22 million people, has been grappling with drought conditions ranging from moderate to exceptional since the beginning of 2024. In an attempt to conserve water, officials have implemented water restrictions, limiting access for many residents to just an hour or so of water every few days. However, a combination of factors, including diminishing rainfall, rising temperatures, leaky infrastructure, and urban sprawl, are pushing the city’s water supply to its limits. Experts have warned that a “day zero,” where freely-available water services completely collapse across the city, could be just a few months away.
The overextraction of water from underground aquifers is a major contributor to the crisis. Roughly 60% of Mexico City’s water comes from these aquifers, which are being depleted at twice the rate they replenish. This overuse has led to damages to infrastructure, impacts on the water system, and ground subsidence. Since 1950, the land has been sinking at a rate of around 20 inches per year. The remaining 40% of the city’s water supply is pumped uphill from outside the city, but this system is plagued by leaks, with 40% of its contents lost in transit. Additionally, much of the once-permeable ground is now covered in concrete, preventing water from seeping back into the aquifers.
The Cutzamala System, the largest water supply system in Mexico City, is also experiencing a decline in capacity. At the end of January, it was pumping only 39.7% of its full capacity, down from 41% in December and a significant decrease from 54% in January 2023. This decrease in capacity further exacerbates the water shortage.
Mexico City’s geographical and historical factors also contribute to its vulnerability to water scarcity. Situated at a high altitude, the city was once the location of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, built on an island on Lake Texcoco. However, when the Spanish conquered Tenochtitlan in 1521, they drained the lake and built Mexico City on the clay-rich soil of the lake bed. This has made the city susceptible to earthquakes and droughts due to the destruction of its natural water cycle.
The severity of the droughts has been amplified by climate change and this year’s El Niño climate pattern, which has led to increased temperatures in the region and across Latin America. To address the water crisis, officials have announced plans to dig more wells around the city and improve wastewater treatment to ensure all residents have access to water. However, it remains uncertain whether these efforts will be enough to avert “day zero” or if it has already arrived.
Water management consultant José Antonio Rodríguez Tirado emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that “day zero” is already here due to contaminated rivers and overexploited springs. With the monsoon season not expected until May or June, residents still have some time before relief may come. However, immediate action is necessary to address the underlying issues causing the water shortage and ensure a sustainable water supply for Mexico City’s growing population.
