The United States Of America is facing a serious water shortage. It’s affecting many parts of the country, including Mexico City, the most populous city in North America. A combination of factors are at play, including climate change, increasing water demand, and aging infrastructure.
Water crisis is hitting hard in Mexico City, where over 21 million people live. There’s just not enough water to go around, and it’s causing a big problem. The city’s reservoirs, which hold water for people to use, are at their lowest levels ever. This means that authorities are only giving people limited amounts of water.
Some people have to wait for days for water trucks to arrive, while others have to get creative to save water. One woman collects water from her shower to use in the toilet, and another recycles water from the washing machine. Buying drinking water from the store has become necessary for many because the city’s water isn’t clean enough.
This isn’t a new problem for Mexico City. The city’s growth, along with climate change making things worse, has been causing water crisis for years. The city relies on pumping water from underground and a system of canals and reservoirs, but these sources are getting stressed out.
Climate change is making things even tougher by causing more droughts and less rain. This means there’s less water to fill up the reservoirs. Some neighborhoods are hit harder than others. In one area in Mexico, people only get water once a week.
A 2021 study co-authored by Solano-Rojas and published in the journal JGR Solid Earth found that groundwater extraction has caused the city to sink at a rate of about 20 inches per year since 1950.
Also See: Pakistani Short Film ‘Jamun ka Darakht’ Wins at Cannes Festival
Olga González, a resident of Coyoacán borough, exemplifies the daily struggles. “We have to conserve every drop,” she says. “I recycle the water I use to wash vegetables to flush the toilet.” Her story echoes across the city, where residents are forced to adjust their routines, prioritizing essential tasks and finding creative ways to conserve.
Authorities are urging everyone to save water, especially since the weather is getting hotter. It’s a tough situation, and people are having to make big sacrifices just to have enough water for their basic needs.