Water Crisis in 10 years?

In just 10 years Mexico could be suffering a widespread water crisis 

Mexican Institute of Water Technology (IMTA) warned about the possible crisis in a recent presentation on water vulnerability in Mexico in the face of climate change by IMTA’s coordinator of hydrology, Mario López.

Expected temperature increases will negatively impact the amount of water that feeds underground aquifers. “The aquifers that supply bigger populations are already overexploited. In the long term we can expect the water reserves to diminish,” said López.

The study identified four particular areas with greater vulnerability to water scarcity: northern Sinaloa, the metropolitan area of Mexico City, the Conchos river basin in Chihuahua and the Lerma-Chapala basin, which is found in five states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, State of México and Querétaro.

According to projections included in the study, some regions in Mexico could experience a 5.5-degree C temperature increase between 2075 and 2099.

In order to further assess the condition of the state’s water reserves, Abedrop has proposed the creation of an office of hydrology within his commission, tasked with studying the several groundwater reserves and the 12 aquifers. The water commission is also analyzing five water supply alternatives for the state’s capital, which include the Batán-Quiotillos aquifer.

“We had considered bringing water from the Moctezuma River but that represented a 32-billion-peso (US $1.7-billion) investment, which we don’t have. We are therefore considering closer alternatives,” explained Abedrop.

Farming consumes 83% of the state’s water supply, domestic use takes 14% and the industrial sector 3%.

Source: Mexico News Daily