Water shortage in Mexico City and the State of Mexico

UNCLAS MEXICO 000264 STATE FOR WHA/MEX - LWOLFSON and MBRANDT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV MX SUBJECT: Water shortage in Mexico City and the State of Mexico ¶1. SUMMARY: Water supply in Mexico City and the State of Mexico is going to be suspended partially during the last weekend of each month, from January to May, due to low levels of the Cutzamala system, a complex of dams that provide 30 percent of the water used in Mexico City. The shortage will affect at least 2.2 million inhabitants in the city. Legislators and officials from the local governments of Mexico City and State of Mexico met with the Director General of the National Water Commission to discuss the water shortage and a plan to recover the balance of the Valley of Mexico's watershed. Experts and environmentalists have pointed out that deforestation, increase of population and illegal wells have affected the recharge of the aquifers of this region, which is the most populated in Mexico and recommended conservation and incentive systems to meet water needs. End summary. ¶2. Mexico City and the State of Mexico will reduce their water supply due to low levels of water stored in the Cutzamala system. The Cutzamala system provides 30 percent of the water used in Mexico City and is composed of seven dams located in the State of Mexico. Some authorities estimate that 20 percent of Mexico City's water supply is lost to leaky piping infrastructure. Due to fewer rains in 2008, the system captured less than half of its capacity, 476 million cubic meters, the lowest level registered in the last 16 years. Due to this decrease, officials decided to reduce water supply to Mexico City, mainly in the northern and western parts of the city, and the eastern part of the State of Mexico, during the last weekend of each month, from January to May. ¶3. Ten districts in Mexico City including those where Embassy and its housing are located are going to be affected, as well as thirteen municipalities in the State of Mexico. The measure taken by officials from both Mexico City's Water System (SAICM) and the Water Commission of the State of Mexico (CAEM) will save ten million cubic meters during the dry season. The first rationing of 50 percent of water supplied by the Cutzamala will be applied this weekend, from January 31 at 3pm to February 2 at 3pm. ¶4. Mexico City's Government (GDF) announced that the shortage will affect 2.2 million inhabitants and announced partial suspension of water supply in the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday and the morning of Monday. Post issued an Admin announcement about the measure and added recommendations to avoid running out of water. Local authorities have also announced the measure, encouraging citizens to save water and use it rationally. ¶5. On January 26, congressmen from the local governments of Mexico City and the State of Mexico met with officials from their local governments in the headquarters of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA),the agency in charge of water policy and its management at the federal level. Jose Luis Luege, CONAGUA's Director General, pointed out that the reduction of water is minor, from one of the two water ducts of the Cutzamala, without stopping water supply. CONAGUA will take advantage of this action to do maintenance in the Cutzamala system. ¶6. During the meeting Luege presented a hydraulic sustainability program for the Valley of Mexico's watershed to recover its balance. The program includes long-term investments of three billion US dollars for new sources of water supply, repair of water leakages in water networks, new technologies for potable water and sewage water treatment. Victor Cirigo, President of the Interior Commission of Mexico City's Legislature informed that CONAGUA is reviewing alternate sources from the states of Hidalgo and Veracruz as well as strengthening the capacity and maintenance of the Cutzamala system and noted that financing should come from the governments of Mexico City, the State of Mexico and the Federal Government to guarantee water supply in Mexico City's Metropolitan Zone, the most populated (21 million people) in Mexico. ¶7. Media have widely covered the announcement on the reduced supply of water. Academics and environmentalists have taken advantage to point out that progressive deforestation in the surroundings of the Valley of Mexico, growth of human settlements and illegal wells affect the recharge of aquifers that supply the Cutzamala system. They warn that is not likely to locate and use new water sources and recommend tariff incentives for water saving and an increased use of treated sewage water. ¶8. Comment: Many engineers and environmentalists have seen this day coming for a long time. The planned repairs and expansions of Cutzamala are insufficient to meet the needs of Mexico City's growing population. Greater conservation and incentive systems will have to be devised. End comment.