Acute Water Shortage in Mexico City's Metropolitan Area

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000368 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV MX SUBJECT: Acute Water Shortage in Mexico City's Metropolitan Area ¶1. (U) Summary: Mexico City's water system has long been plagued by a combination of sustained population growth, insufficient infrastructure, a water pricing system that barely covers 30 percent of costs, and infrastructure damage that causes leakage of up to 30 percent of its supply. Over the past year, Mexico City has experienced its lowest rainfall in 68 years. The level of its main external water supply, the Cutzamala system, dropped about 50 percent, which led local and federal authorities to implement water rationing and to increase water tariffs. Although local legislators approved an increase of water rates to begin in March and officials have begun promoting water saving measures and appliances, severe water shortages will continue at least until the middle of the next rainy season (July - August 2010). Despite a doubling of Mexico City's budget for water management in 2010, resources are insufficient to address the various infrastructure and other requirements that would ensure sustainable use of water in the metropolis. End summary. ¶2. (U) The Cutzamala reservoir system, a complex of seven dams located in the State of Mexico, supplies 30 percent of potable water to Mexico City. Last July the system dipped to just 42 percent of capacity, as Mexico experienced its lowest rainfall in 68 years. Meteorologists attribute the drought to El Ni????o, a climate phenomenon expected to end by March 2010. Concerned about a potential interruption of water supply in areas of Mexico City????s Metropolitan Zone, last August 12 Jose Luis Luege, Director General of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA),Ramon Aguirre, Director of Mexico City's Water System (SACM) and Oscar Hernandez, Undersecretary for Water in the State of Mexico, announced an indefinite 30 percent water cut to save 381 thousand cubic meters of water daily. With Cutzamala at only 58 percent capacity, last month city officials announced an extension of the water rationing until at least the next rainy season, in July-August of 2010. A Long-Standing Problem -------------- ¶3. (U) The most affected districts include about 35 percent of the city's population. The city supplements these districts' water supply through tank trailers, but is unable to supply water in a timely manner, with some people paying up to USD 190 to fill their cisterns through private companies. The city's poorest residents pay disproportionately, because they are located in the affected districts and must purchase bottled water or water from tank trailers. ¶4. (U) Urban growth in Mexico City has far exceeded its infrastructure. Veronica Martinez, Project Coordinator from the Water Consultative Council noted that Mexico City water demand has increased four-fold over the last 50 years, causing an overexploitation of Mexico City's aquifers and forcing the city to depend on external water sources (the Cutzamala-Lerma-Santiago watershed in the State of Mexico). This overexploitation has caused land subsidence of between two and ten inches annually in various locations, damaging water pipelines and drainage systems, which in turn exacerbates water loss through leakages and aquifer pollution. During a seminar organized by researchers from the Colegio de Mexico's Center for Research on Demography, Urban, and Environmental Issues (CEDUA),experts called for strengthening social participation based on a policy of equity, efficiency and cost-pricing. Specialists also recommended the use of rain water capture systems, sewage water treatment, and repair of main water pipes, through which 30 percent of Mexico City's water is lost to leakage. Water Saving Measures: Saving Water is Up to You -------------- --- ¶5. (U) Officials from CONAGUA, SACM and the State of Mexico launched a campaign in coordination with the National Association of Appliance Producers (ANFAD) to implement water-saving showers and toilets that follow ecological targets designed by CONAGUA: showers of 3.8 liters per minute or less and toilets of 5 liters per discharge. Mexico City Water Director Ramon Aguirre also announced the replacement of one million shower heads with low-flow models, a 20 percent cutback of water consumption in public buildings, and the replacement of old pipes to eliminate large-scale leaks. As part of its public relations campaign, the Mexico City government published announcements in local newspapers and distributed brochures in public transportation last fall: "This is the worst drought in the history of Mexico City...this is not a warning, this is real; the city may be without water by February 2010; saving water is up to you." Like other water conservation initiatives, the campaign was cut short due to lack of resources, but will probably resume next spring as water demand increases and water shortage continues. During a public event on Mexico City's water program for 2010, Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard pointed MEXICO 00000368 002 OF 002 out that his priority was to guarantee water supply and asked citizens to avoid waste of water as the water shortage persists. Is Water a Good, or a Human Right? -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Mayor Ebrard and Ramon Aguirre proposed an increase in water rates in 2010 to encourage water conservation, to cover maintenance costs, and to help cover CONAGUA's own 18 percent cost increase. While some members of the Mexico City Legislative Assembly (equivalent to a state legislature) advocated the elimination of existing subsidies, arguing that the system does not get enough revenue to cover its costs, others were opposed, calling water a human right and rejecting the addition of another cost during the current economic crisis. [Note: The real cost of a cubic meter of water in Mexico City is USD 1.7, but customers are only charged USD 2 cents, and nearly 45 percent of water revenue remains uncollected due to lack of payment, clandestine water intakes, and leaks. End Note] Last December Emboffs met with Aguirre, who noted that although Mayor Ebrard would welcome participation of the private sector in water management, Mexico City Assembly members consider it not a politically prudent decision, particularly those belonging to the controlling leftist party in Mexico City, the PRD. Aguirre also commented that the private sector would likely find it fiscally challenging to participate in Mexico City's water system, considering that the public and legal perception of water as a "human right" drives the prices down to a rate at which companies would find it impossible to make a profit. Aguirre noted that the city lags behind a decade in water infrastructure, including water supply, water meters, drainage and sewage water treatment, and replacement of old pipelines. Although SACM's budget for 2010 had doubled to a total of USD 115 million, Aguirre observed that the agency would require three times that amount to provide an adequate water infrastructure. Jose Luis Luege, head of CONAGUA, has pointed out that the main problem of Mexico City's Metropolitan Zone is water supply and the best way to face it is with coordinated efforts between federal and local governments, and the private sector. ¶7. (U) On December 23, Mexico City????s Legislative Commission of Finance and Public Accounting approved an increase in water tariffs according to a scheme based on socio-economic level and level of use. An average household use of 20 to 30 cubic meters per month will cost in a range of USD 2.70 to USD 11.5, depending on the location of the neighborhood; poorer neighborhoods will have lower rates. Although the increase in water rates may cause some discontent, Mexico City Secretary of Environment Martha Delgado claimed that a recent poll showed that people would be willing to pay more for water if the supply were stable. Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Years of centralized authority and overgenerous subsidies have resulted in an underfunded and unsustainable water management system. Population growth and Mexico City's location at an altitude of 7,300 feet (the city lies on high plateau where water must be pumped from wells and external water sources before it reaches the tap) make the supply of drinking water and sewage removal a major challenge. SACM and CONAGUA are analyzing possible external sources of water for the city. It is widely considered a good sign that local authorities are finally advocating public measures to save water and admitting that it may be necessary to address the water shortage with more aggressive measures. An increase in water rates may decrease water usage, especially if the rates are high enough to cover the cost of the water to the government, though this remains a difficult political proposition. Other public measures could include permanent campaigns on rational use and the imposition of limits to urban growth. Fernando Menendez, advisor to Mexico City????s Secretary of Environment, has pointed out that an additional 19 cubic meters per second will probably be necessary within the next 15 years to guarantee water supply to the city????s growing population. He stressed that the only way to ensure such a water supply is through an integral water management plan that -- besides rational consumption -- includes repair of water leakages, treatment and re-use of sewage water, and cost benefit projects to capture water in forested areas that comprise more than fifty percent of the city????s territory. There are many signs that the city is nearing its limits on water supply. If municipal government and citizens are unable to implement tough preventative measures, escalating drought may force even more painful political decisions. End comment. PASCUAL