* Our only hope? Water delivery in Magdalena Contreras, D.F. Source.
Mexico City -- the second or third largest in the world, the eighth wealthiest, the mighty megalopolis -- is running out of water. No news in saying so, but right now the situation appears critical. Reserves of the city's largely imported water supplies from the Cutzamala plant are at their lowest in years. Hoping to prevent a larger disaster, for three days a month, the municipal water utility has decided to run the city's supply at 50% its normal flow. March 14 was the first time this measure was taken -- and from what I'm seeing and hearing, the water hasn't been back on yet.
That's 12 days of sporadic, low-pressure water at the tap for who knows how many millions of people. And no water -- none -- for perhaps millions more. That means dead toilets, no showers, panting plants. Some boroughs and specific neighborhoods have not been affected much (you can guess which), and others have been so severely (guess which again). All the info is there in the SACM news section. The Mija Chronicles is blogging it: "The honeymoon is over."
The city still has pipas, or trucks that distribute potable water, and the bottled, treated stuff, which is all we drink anyway. And the problem will never be as sexy as bloodshed and beheadings. But watch this video at El Universal. The reporter says that city and federal authorities have dire forecasts for Mexico City's water this year. "Drastic steps" may be in order, such as shutting off water entirely on the weekends.
Time to make some serious offerings to Tlaloc?