AP: Mexico City imposes severe, monthslong water restrictions as drought dries up reservoirs
Mexico City imposes severe, monthslong water restrictions as drought dries up reservoirsBY DANIEL SHAILER
Updated 2:06 AM EST, November 11, 2023
MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican officials imposed severe, monthslong cuts to Mexico Citys water supply at midnight Friday, acting just a month after
initial restrictions were ordered as drought dries the capitals reservoirs.
The Mexican National Water Commission and mayor announced the moves at a news conference, but officials did not report the cuts on social media until just four hours before they took effect.
Abnormally low rain has dropped the Cutzamala system a network of three reservoirs serving over 20 million residents in the Valley of Mexico to historic seasonal lows. The system is 44% lower than it should be at this time of the year.
Officials began restricting water from Cutzamala by roughly 8% on Oct. 17. Fridays cuts are much more drastic, representing a further 25% of the systems total flow. Twelve boroughs, mostly in the west of the city, can expect lower water pressure until the restrictions lift, officials said.