High terrain, low rainfall due to climate change over many years, combined with massive urbanization and outdated infrastructure have exacerbated the situation, according to Reuters. Some people said they and their neighbors had to compete for the limited supplies.
Specifically, Mexico City receives most of its water from rainfall between May and August each year. However, unusually dry weather in recent years has caused the city's reservoirs to dry up and become irreversible.
According to expert Andreas Prein, an atmospheric scientist at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF): "In Mexico, we have to wait until May or June until rainfall really increases significantly to have a chance to restore water in the reservoirs."
Water shortages greatly affect people's lives.
“The change is getting more extreme due to climate change. This is what we see on a global scale,” the expert added.
The Cutzamala System, a network of pumping stations, dams and other infrastructure that supplies water to about 6 million people, is under the greatest pressure ever, a representative of water company SACMEX said on January 31. Meanwhile, local officials also acknowledged that this is an “unprecedented” low and called on people to change their habits to save as much as possible.
Government data showed the Cutzamala System was operating at just 39.7% capacity on January 29, down from about 41% in December 2023 and 54% at this time last year.
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