Mexico City is teetering on the edge of a severe water crisis exacerbated by climate change, rapid urban expansion, and deteriorating infrastructure. The city’s groundwater levels are rapidly depleting, with one key reservoir becoming too low to use. Last year marked the hottest and driest period in Mexico in at least 70 years, and the city’s primary water system is facing a potential “Day Zero” this summer when it may no longer provide water.
“We’re suffering because the city is growing immeasurably,” said Gabriel Martínez, a resident of a large apartment complex struggling with water shortages. The city’s population has ballooned from 15 million in 1990 to 23 million today, adding immense pressure to the water system. Mexico City is not alone; other major cities like Cape Town and São Paulo face similar challenges due to poor water management and scarce rainfall.
Historically, certain neighborhoods in Mexico City have lacked sufficient piped water, but now even areas that never faced shortages are experiencing rationing. For example, the Cutzamala water system, supplying 27% of the city’s water, is at a historic low of 30% capacity, with officials projecting a critical “Day Zero” by June 26.
Groundwater, the city’s primary water source, is being extracted at twice the rate of its replenishment. The aging infrastructure, including an 8,000-mile-long grid of pipes vulnerable to leaks, earthquakes, and ground sinking, exacerbates the crisis. Approximately 35% of the city’s water is lost through leaks, more than the Cutzamala system provides.
Efforts to address the crisis include digging new wells, tackling water corruption, and exploring additional water sources from outside the city.
The crisis is particularly dire in poorer areas like Iztapalapa, where residents rely on municipal water trucks. As water becomes scarcer, even affluent neighborhoods are facing increased rationing.
With temperatures rising and droughts becoming more frequent, Mexico City’s water woes are likely to worsen. The estimated cost of resolving the crisis is $13.5 billion, and while some progress has been made, experts argue that more aggressive actions are needed to secure the city’s water future.
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