The Cutzamala system, responsible for supplying water to over 20 million residents in the Valley of Mexico, has reached historically low levels due to abnormally low rainfall.
Mexican authorities implemented significant and prolonged water supply cuts to Mexico City, effective midnight on Friday, responding to the ongoing drought depleting the capital's reservoirs. The Mexican National Water Commission and the mayor disclosed this development in a press conference, with the announcement on social media coming only four hours before the restrictions commenced, PTI reported.
The Cutzamala system, responsible for supplying water to over 20 million residents in the Valley of Mexico, has reached historically low levels due to abnormally low rainfall. Initially, officials had initiated an 8 percent reduction in water from Cutzamala on October 17. However, the latest cuts, implemented on Friday, constitute a more drastic 25 percent reduction in the system's total flow, affecting twelve boroughs, primarily in the western part of the city, with lower water pressure anticipated until the restrictions are lifted.
Authorities refrained from specifying the duration of these measures, indicating only that they would persist for "the next few months." They highlighted that the anticipated rainy season, crucial for replenishing the city's water supply, is not expected until around May.
This marks an unprecedented move for Mexico, as the city has never before faced such stringent and prolonged water restrictions due to drought. While the nation attributes the decreased rainfall to El Nino and heat waves, officials acknowledge that drought conditions have been intensifying over the past four years, gradually diminishing reservoir levels. Climate change-induced patterns, such as stronger El Nino occurrences, contribute to these periods of reduced rainfall.
"The country has been subjected to extreme weather phenomena, and the Cutzamala System is no exception," stated German Arturo Martínez Santoyo, the head of the water commission. Overall, Mexico experienced a 25 percent deficit in rainfall compared to the past three decades, with over three-quarters of the country facing drought conditions, and 93 percent of the Valley of Mexico in drought, according to the commission's reports.
Despite experts warning of severe groundwater depletion, officials announced plans for three new water wells and enhancements to 58 existing wells. Additionally, ongoing efforts on a new water treatment plant at the Madin reservoir northwest of Mexico City were emphasized.
Rafael Carmona Paredes, the capital's chief water official, urged citizens to "adopt new habits" to mitigate the water shortage, emphasizing the collective responsibility of the populace in addressing this critical issue.