Mexico City is currently in the midst of a water crisis. An astonishing 20 million people live in the Mexico City metropolitan area, making it the largest metro area in North America. The Mexico City metro area gets most of its water from two sources: an underground aquifer and a series of three reservoirs called the Cutzamala system. However, after historically low rainfalls in 2023, the region has found itself in a drought, with the reservoirs also at historically low levels.
Mexico has two primary seasons: dry and rainy. The rainy season does not begin until May, so there is virtually no chance of the Cutzamala reservoirs being sufficiently refilled before then via precipitation. In October 2023, officials implemented 8 percent cuts to water from the Cutzamala reservoirs. About a month later, these restrictions were increased an additional 25 percent.
Although the water crisis has been building for years, the recent drought is an alarming escalation. So, what are the factors behind Mexico City’s water crisis, and is there anything that can be done to stop it?
How Climate Change Is Driving Mexico City’s Water Crisis
Rainfall during Mexico City’s 2023 rainy season, which runs from about May until October, was 25 percent less than expected based on averages from the previous 30 years. Officials from the Mexican National Water Commission have pointed to El Niño and unprecedented heat waves as primary factors behind the historically low rainfall levels, along with intensifying droughts over the previous four years.
The ongoing crisis in Mexico City is one of many current examples that show us that climate change is already having a devastating impact on established biomes. A wealth of research has proven that climate change causes more intense periods of El Niño, which results in lower rainfall. More than three quarters of the country is currently experiencing a drought. In the Valley of Mexico, where Mexico City is located, this percentage is a staggering 93 percent.
Water Infrastructure Issues Play a Role
In ancient times, what is now Mexico City was cosmopolitan and beautiful. Known then as Tenochtitlán, the ancient Aztec city was built on an island in Lake Texcoco and drew its water supply from the nearby freshwater lakes. Tenochtitlán’s water systems were unprecedented for the time. Residents got potable water from aqueducts, and drainage systems were commonplace in the ancient Aztec capital.
In 1519, conquistador Hernando Cortés and his forces arrived in Tenochtitlán. Soon after, they besieged and razed it. Mexico City was built on the ruins of the former Aztec city. As the region became more densely populated, Tenochtitlán’s freshwater lakes were drained to build infrastructure and homes for the rapidly growing population. The majority of modern Mexico City is built on top of this dried, ancient lakebed.
Tenochtitlán’s natural water systems were replaced with a complex, man-made system that disrupts the natural cycle. This new system relies on wells and infrastructure that pull two-thirds of the water being used from aquifers below the city. The remaining supply is funneled through an intricate network of reservoirs. These systems put a strain on the city’s sinking ground and damage city streets, buildings, and infrastructure. The majority of the water delivery pipes are too old to function properly, and the city loses 40 percent of the water moving through those pipes to leaks.
Urban expansion and climate change are escalating demand on the overused aquifers. Consequently, the city is rapidly sinking at a rate of up to 15 inches per year in certain areas. Despite their astronomical cost, flood control projects like a $2 billion tunnel system haven’t addressed the water scarcity or sinking issues. They primarily divert rainwater and sewage without efficient recycling to refill the aquifer.
How Can Mexico City’s Water Scarcity Crisis Be Addressed?
Although Mexico City may be one of the first and biggest cities to have its water supply threatened by climate change, it will not be the last. According to the United Nations, worldwide demand for freshwater is projected to exceed supply by 40 percent by the end of the decade. Climate change, population growth, and human action are cited as the three primary causes behind this impending global crisis.
In this same UN report, Mexico City was listed as one of a dozen cities most likely to run out of water by 2030. Many experts fear that the ominous “day zero,” a date when water might become completely unavailable, is inevitable for places like Mexico City unless drastic changes are made to address water scarcity.
Mexico City’s water crisis is being driven by a combination of both local and global factors. While it is a complex issue with no easy answers, local officials are working to identify solutions. The National Water Commission recently announced plans to build three new water wells and one new water treatment plant and to refurbish 58 existing ones. However, some experts believe that the city’s groundwater is already too depleted for these efforts to make a significant difference.
From an international perspective, Mexico City’s water crisis serves as a warning to other nations and a reminder of the urgency with which we must make changes to mitigate climate change. Although numerous factors are exacerbating the crisis, the current drought and subsequent water shortage are undoubtedly byproducts of the global climate crisis.