. A highly populated city in the world is facing a severe water shortage, leading many residents to go without water for “days, if not weeks”.
The capital of Mexico, Mexico City, has almost 22 million inhabitants. However, the city has been facing a shortage of water supply for several months. This has resulted in the possibility of a “day zero” where the city, which is one of the most densely populated in the world, will not have enough water to sustain its residents.
According to a report from La Razón de México, officials are concerned about “day zero” which will occur on June 26 and last until September, when the Cutzamala System may not have enough water to supply residents. Current residents are already facing challenges, as some have gone without running water for days or even weeks, explains CBS News contributor Enrique Acevedo, citing the Water Basin Organization of the Valley of Mexico.
“The city has experienced severe water shortages and has had to implement strict management measures, a situation unprecedented in the past 10 years,” he reported. “In response, gyms and public parks in Mexico City have had to restrict the number of guests using their facilities for showers and other purposes, as memberships were being exploited for water usage.”
According to SACMEX, the temperature was recorded at almost 85 degrees Fahrenheit on Feb. 27. The Weather Channel predicts that this week’s temperatures will reach nearly 90 degrees Fahrenheit with little cloud coverage.
According to Rafael Carmona, the director of SACMEX, the current situation is unique, with a shortage of rain being a significant contributing factor. Over the past four to five years, there has been a decrease in rainfall in the area, resulting in low water levels in nearby dams. The combination of limited water supply and a dense population has created an unprecedented scenario that has not been seen before in this administration or previous ones.
The majority of Mexico is currently facing drought conditions, with a significant number of regions experiencing severe or exceptional levels, according to the national drought monitor. Approximately 75% of the country was affected by drought in October, with the rainy season not expected until May.
/ Getty Images
Acevedo stated that, in addition to the drought, a key factor aggravating the issue is inadequate management of water resources.
“We have experienced numerous leaks in our water systems. According to various reports, as much as 40% of the water lost in our city is due to these underground leaks. Additionally, there have been reports of leaks in residential areas,” stated the speaker.
SACMEX reported multiple leaks in early February, which they stated they were actively addressing. According to the supplier, the majority of these leaks were a result of pressure fluctuations in the hydraulic network.
Some people disagree that “day zero” will occur in the near future. According to a report in La Razón de México, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated that the government will be able to adequately increase the water supply this year to prevent this event. Other experts speculate that this could potentially happen in the future.
Acevedo stated that while a day zero is not imminent, the current situation is one of the worst they have seen in a while.
More
More
Source: cbsnews.com