Drought in Mexico?
Drought in Mexico is a recurring phenomenon that affects several regions of the country and has multiple causes. This problem is characterized by the scarcity of rainfall and the decrease in water levels, being influenced by a variety of factors, from weather patterns to unsustainable human practices. One of the main triggers of drought in Mexico is the fluctuation of weather patterns, such as El Niño and La Niña. These atmospheric phenomena can alter the rainfall regime and contribute to prolonged drought conditions in certain areas of the country and the world.
Mexico's geographic location also influences drought, as most of the country's territory is located in semi-arid or arid areas, where rainfall is naturally scarce. Deforestation and land use change aggravate this situation by reducing the soil's capacity to retain water and increasing surface runoff. Overexploitation of water resources is another factor that contributes significantly to drought. Intensive agricultural activity and excessive water extraction for industrial and domestic use deplete aquifers and decrease the availability of surface water, exacerbating drought in many regions of the country.
Inadequate water infrastructure also plays a crucial role in drought. The lack of efficient water storage and distribution systems limits the country's ability to cope with water scarcity during periods of prolonged drought.
The impacts of drought in Mexico are significant and range from shortages of drinking water to crop losses and ecosystem degradation. This situation can negatively affect food security, public health and the economic development of affected communities.
Recently, the version of the Day Zero , the day Mexico City will run out of water in just a few months. Gabriela Jiménez Casas, an environmental education specialist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), mentioned that it is not possible to accurately predict the day a city or country will run out of water. But that does not mean that Mexico City is not suffering from shortages. The Cutzamala system, which provides 18% of the city's drinking water, is at 38.5% of its capacity, when last year it was at 52.21%.
In the capital as well as in other cities in the country and the world, there is a high risk, so public policy precautions are recommended, although this issue does not seem to be a priority for life.
He Day Zero, according to the foundation The Social Water, It is the moment when a city, region or country runs out of enough water to fully meet basic needs. Mexican Institute of Water Technology defines it as the inability to supply water to the population.
What is happening with the Cutzamala System?
The System Cutzamala It is a water system for the operation, infrastructure, storage, conduction, purification and distribution of drinking water for the population and industry that extends across the entities of Michoacán, the State of Mexico and Mexico City.
Based on the Mexico City Water System ( Sacmex ), it provides water to 12 of 16 municipalities: Alvaro Obregon, Azcapotzalco, Benito Juarez, Coyoacan, Cuajimalpa, Cuauhtemoc, Iztacalco, Iztapalapa, Magdalena Contreras, Miguel Hidalgo, Tlalpan and Venustiano Carranza. It is the second most important source of supply for the country's capital.
In total, it can store 782.5 million cubic meters of water, but the most recent report from the National Water Commission ( Conagua ) shows that as of February 14 it had 301.6 million cubic meters, which represents just 38.5% of its capacity.
This is a historically low percentage, since on the same date in 2023 the water storage was at 52.21%. As for 2022 and 2021, they were at 61.13% and 55.33%, respectively.
According to the Conagua, From January 31 to February 15, 2024, due to recent rains, extreme and exceptional droughts decreased slightly. At the national level, the area with these conditions went from occupying 28.98% of the country to 28.43%.
And although the Cutzamala is at 38.5% of its capacity, it is also important to mention that the main source of supply for Mexico City is the wells, that is, infrastructures from which water is extracted from underground aquifers. In addition, there are other sources such as the Lerma system, water from the tanks that supply Chalmita, the Chiconautla aqueduct, the springs and the La Caldera pumping plant. Will they be enough?
Although the Day Zero It is a possibility, as foundations, institutes and specialists have stated, that the reduction in the water supply in Mexico City is real and the Cutzamala system is at historically low levels of its capacity, without this meaning that there is already a set date for the capital to not be able to supply the population with this resource for basic needs.
Neither the 'rain dance' nor the visit of Tlaloc turn out to be enough to stop the drought in Mexico. The outlook is grim, as the rainy season is still a long way off. Typically, rainfall in Mexico occurs from May to November, so there are at least a couple of months left.
States with extreme and exceptional drought
In its latest report, dated February 15, Conagua released a list of states that are on red alert, based on its category system, which divides drought levels into five areas.
- D0 – Abnormally dry
- D1 – Moderate drought
- D2 – Severe drought
- D3 – Extreme drought
- D4 – Exceptional drought
The country's entities that report a extreme and exceptional drought (D3 and D4), the two highest levels, are as follows:
- Chihuahua
- Sonora
- Sinaloa
- Durango
- Tamaulipas
- San Luis Potosi
- Querétaro
- Michoacan
- Gentleman
- Guanajuato
- Aguascalientes
Meanwhile, states experiencing a abnormally dry weather , as well as moderate and severe droughts are:
- Colima
- Chiapas
- Mexico City
- Warrior
- Jalisco
- State of Mexico
- Morelos
- Nayarit
- New Leon
- Oaxaca
- Puebla
- Tabasco
- Tlaxcala
Figures of the World Bank They indicate that per capita water availability has fallen by 60 percent in 50 years and the situation will worsen in the coming years.
According to data from that institution, the average annual availability per capita was 10 thousand cubic meters (m3) in 1960 and was reduced to 4 thousand in 2012. Estimates indicate that water availability in Mexico will be less than 3 thousand m3 per inhabitant in 2030.
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