The water supply that goes from Cutzamala System The City and State of Mexico has maintained a reduction for several weeks; In just 15 days it went from 7,984 cubic meters per second (m³/s) to 7,740 m³/s.
Citlalli Peraza, director of the Basin Organization Waters of the Valley of Mexicoof the National Water Commission (Conagua), reported during the session of the Technical Committee for the Operation of Hydraulic Works (CTOOH) that the three Cutzamala dams have a storage of 29.1 percent, that is, 227.82 million cubic meters (Mm³ ), while last week it was at 30.8 percent.
This decrease reflects a worrying trend that could worsen the water situation in the region.
The water supply of the Cutzamala System has experienced a significant reduction, which puts the availability of the resource at risk for millions of inhabitants in the Valley of Mexico.
The situation is exacerbated by the conditions of drought that affect the country.
Drought and heat
According to the National Meteorological Service (SMN), of Conagua, as of May 15, 2024, extreme and exceptional droughts cover 31.18 percent of the Mexican territory, with the highest incidence in the northwest and center of the country. In addition, 39.58 percent of the territory faces moderate and severe droughts, and 14.82 percent is abnormally dry.
The SMN also reported record temperatures in May, with a maximum of 47.2 degrees Celsius recorded in Choix, Sinaloa, on the 19th, surpassing the previous record of 46 degrees. These extreme heat conditions have contributed to the decrease in water levels in the country’s main dams.
The Cutzamala System’s water supply continues to decline, reflecting a water crisis affecting both Mexico City and the State of Mexico, aggravated by drought and record temperatures.
Low rainy season
Regarding the rainy season, the SMN reported that from January 1 to May 19, 2024, Mexico has recorded 55 millimeters of precipitation, 42.3 percent less than the historical average for this period.
This lack of rainfall has negatively impacted water storage in dams. The 2024 rainy and tropical cyclone season has not yet recorded any significant events, although 15 to 18 systems are forecast in the Pacific Ocean and 20 to 23 in the Atlantic.
The reduction in the Cutzamala System’s water supply is indicative of the severity of the water crisis, with storage levels continuing to decline in the main dams.
The General Technical Subdirectorate of With water reported that the filling level of the 210 main dams in Mexico, which have the capacity to store 92 percent of the water in the country’s reservoirs, is at 39 percent as of May 20, 2024.
This represents a total volume of 48,752 million cubic meters (Mm³), reflecting a capacity well below what is necessary to adequately supply the population.
The three storage dams of the Cutzamala System (El Bosque, Valle de Bravo and Villa Victoria), which supply 25 percent of the water to the Valley of Mexico, are currently at 29.1 percent of their total capacity. This critical situation demands immediate action to avoid a major crisis in the water supply to millions of people.
The water supply of the Cutzamala System, crucial for the Valley of Mexico, faces a serious reduction, underscoring the urgency of implementing sustainable and effective measures for water resource management.
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