R 292302Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4877

UNCLAS MEXICO 000264 
 
 
STATE FOR WHA/MEX - LWOLFSON and MBRANDT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV MX
SUBJECT: Water shortage in Mexico City and the State of Mexico 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Water supply in Mexico City and the State of Mexico is 
going to be suspended partially during the last weekend of each 
month, from January to May, due to low levels of the Cutzamala 
system, a complex of dams that provide 30 percent of the water used 
in Mexico City.  The shortage will affect at least 2.2 million 
inhabitants in the city.  Legislators and officials from the local 
governments of Mexico City and State of Mexico met with the Director 
General of the National Water Commission to discuss the water 
shortage and a plan to recover the balance of the Valley of Mexico's 
watershed.  Experts and environmentalists have pointed out that 
deforestation, increase of population and illegal wells have 
affected the recharge of the aquifers of this region, which is the 
most populated in Mexico and recommended conservation and incentive 
systems to meet water needs.  End summary. 
 
¶2. Mexico City and the State of Mexico will reduce their water 
supply due to low levels of water stored in the Cutzamala system. 
The Cutzamala system provides 30 percent of the water used in Mexico 
City and is composed of seven dams located in the State of Mexico. 
Some authorities estimate that 20 percent of Mexico City's water 
supply is lost to leaky piping infrastructure.  Due to fewer rains 
in 2008, the system captured less than half of its capacity, 476 
million cubic meters, the lowest level registered in the last 16 
years.  Due to this decrease, officials decided to reduce water 
supply to Mexico City, mainly in the northern and western parts of 
the city, and the eastern part of the State of Mexico, during the 
last weekend of each month, from January to May. 
 
¶3. Ten districts in Mexico City including those where Embassy and 
its housing are located are going to be affected, as well as 
thirteen municipalities in the State of Mexico. The measure taken by 
officials from both Mexico City's Water System (SAICM) and the Water 
Commission of the State of Mexico (CAEM) will save ten million cubic 
meters during the dry season.  The first rationing of 50 percent of 
water supplied by the Cutzamala will be applied this weekend, from 
January 31 at 3pm to February 2 at 3pm. 
 
¶4. Mexico City's Government (GDF) announced that the shortage will 
affect 2.2 million inhabitants and announced partial suspension of 
water supply in the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday and the 
morning of Monday.  Post issued an Admin announcement about the 
measure and added recommendations to avoid running out of water. 
Local authorities have also announced the measure, encouraging 
citizens to save water and use it rationally. 
 
¶5. On January 26, congressmen from the local governments of Mexico 
City and the State of Mexico met with officials from their local 
governments in the headquarters of the National Water Commission 
(CONAGUA), the agency in charge of water policy and its management 
at the federal level.  Jose Luis Luege, CONAGUA's Director General, 
pointed out that the reduction of water is minor, from one of the 
two water ducts of the Cutzamala, without stopping water supply. 
CONAGUA will take advantage of this action to do maintenance in the 
Cutzamala system. 
 
¶6. During the meeting Luege presented a hydraulic sustainability 
program for the Valley of Mexico's watershed to recover its balance. 
 The program includes long-term investments of three billion US 
dollars for new sources of water supply, repair of water leakages in 
water networks, new technologies for potable water and sewage water 
treatment.  Victor Cirigo, President of the Interior Commission of 
Mexico City's Legislature informed that CONAGUA is reviewing 
alternate sources from the states of Hidalgo and Veracruz as well as 
strengthening the capacity and maintenance of the Cutzamala system 
and noted that financing should come from the governments of Mexico 
City, the State of Mexico and the Federal Government to guarantee 
water supply in Mexico City's Metropolitan Zone, the most populated 
(21 million people) in Mexico. 
 
¶7. Media have widely covered the announcement on the reduced supply 
of water.  Academics and environmentalists have taken advantage to 
point out that progressive deforestation in the surroundings of the 
Valley of Mexico, growth of human settlements and illegal wells 
affect the recharge of aquifers that supply the Cutzamala system. 
They warn that is not likely to locate and use new water sources and 
recommend tariff incentives for water saving and an increased use of 
treated sewage water. 
 
¶8. Comment:  Many engineers and environmentalists have seen this day 
coming for a long time.  The planned repairs and expansions of 
Cutzamala are insufficient to meet the needs of Mexico City's 
growing population.  Greater conservation and incentive systems will 
have to be devised.  End comment.