Accusations flare as Mexico City's water crisis approaches 'day zero'

Mexico City’s metropolitan area could face a serious lack of water by end-June as the reserves of the Cutzamala system – a series of reservoirs, water treatment plants, canals and tunnels that supply a quarter of the water consumed in the metropolitan area – are drying up amid a drought. 

According to a report from water commission Conagua, the system is at 28% of capacity and will not be able to meet demand from June 26, which has been called “day zero.”

The capital is experiencing a severe drought – according to the North American Drought Monitor produced by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln – accompanied by high temperatures and overexploitation of the local aquifer and the Cutzamala reserves.

Miguel Cancino, environmental expert and senior associate at DAT Consultores, told BNamericas that poor management has also contributed to water scarcity. 

“The lack of effective public policies, insufficient investment in water infrastructure, the inadequate regulation of water rights and the lack of effective regulations have contributed to the reduction of water levels in the dams and the hydric stress in the region,” he said.

According to Mexico City water utility Sacmex, up to 50% of water is lost due to leaks, hence more investment in infrastructure is needed. 

The country and the capital head to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president and mayors, along with other positions. In the race for Mexico City mayor the opposition’s Santiago Taboada and ruling party Morena’s Clara Brugada lead the latest polls. During televised debates, Taboada has accused Morena of failing to act to resolve the water crisis. 

“In 27 years there has not been one project or program to change the way in which the city’s water is distributed,” he said during a student event on March 14, according to a report in news outlet Expansión. 

Brugada, however, denied the water scarcity is so serious. 

“We do have water problems, historically, but we won't run out of water. They have even set a date when we’ll run out. That's a lie. They're using it as a campaign strategy,” she said in March, according to the same report. 

Nevertheless, Brugada has proposed doubling water treatment capacity by modernizing and building treatment plants, as well as increasing rainwater collection. 

Taboada proposed treating and reusing domestically consumed water, and rainwater collection in public buildings. 

Cancino said the proposals are on the right track but the candidates have not laid out specific plans. 

“There is no explanation of how the proposed projects and initiatives will be carried out, nor about the amount of funds to finance them. From the technical point of view, they’re all good proposals but it’s necessary to analyze their feasibility,” he said.

Moreover, Conagua lacks the funds to guarantee proper water supply, with 62bn pesos (US$3.7bn) assigned to it for 2024. According to Cancino, that is 12% less than the budget allocated last year and the same amount earmarked for it 10 years ago.

“With this budget it must guarantee the verification of 527,000 water concessions in the country with fewer than 200 inspectors. This results in a lack of control of the water extracted from authorized wells. The lack of surveillance also promotes illegal water extraction,” he said. 

Mexico City’s metropolitan area obtains 67% of its water from the local aquifer, which is overexploited and has caused subsidence in many parts of the city, while 28% comes from the Lerma-Cutzamala systems and the remaining 5% from local rivers. 

“The main issue in this situation is the urgency to change our way of thinking and adopt an approach that prioritizes sustainable development and rational use of water,” said Cancino. “Water scarcity is a problem that is expected to increase in the next few years and requires immediate attention from the government and society.”