The Water Crisis and Day Zero

By: A. S. Thiollier

What would you do if you knew you were running out of water? If you knew that one day, one day soon, you could simply run out? This consideration is the scary reality for inhabitants of Mexico City, where water has become a scarce commodity. For months now, water has become a very irregular visitor: most days the tap barely trickles, some days, it doesn't offer anything at all. The worst thing is, there seems to be no solution in sight, or, rather, the most likely end would be one where the water simply... dries up.  
The water scarcity problem has been developing since the city's inauguration, centuries ago. Mexico City was built on a high-altitude lakebed, and since then the city has experienced centuries of major expansion and extreme environmental changes. The original settlers of the region were the Aztecs, who decided to build their Tenochtitlan in this area. They used the region’s ample water to their advantage, building canals and bridges. However, in the early 16th century, all this care became for nought when Spanish conquistadors completely transformed the environment. Wetlands were paved over, rivers diverted, and forests razed, creating the roots of problems modern-day citizens face so harshly today. 
60% of Mexico City’s water is drawn from a belowground aquifer that is depleting at such an alarming rate that the city is actively sinking because of it. What’s worse, due to the city’s high altitude, when it finally rains, the water does not sink into the ground, instead, it runs off the concrete city. Other sources of water must be pumped uphill, and this process is so inefficient nearly half of the water is lost through leaks before reaching the city.  
The prospect of "day zero" - a name given to the imminent possibility of an end to the water supply - is becoming increasingly likely, without many solutions coming to light. A source in local media stated that this fated day could come as soon as June 2024.  
Despite these challenges, possibilities for resilience and adaptation emerge. Some solutions such as enhanced wastewater treatment and rainwater harvesting provide some hope in these dark times. Restoring rivers and wetlands replenishes water sources while also restoring urban ecosystems, addressing many challenges (including air and water pollution, biodiversity restoration) at once.  
 As Mexico City battles its water crisis, the need for a united front grows increasingly essential. Because while day zero is more imminent for Mexico City, the whole world faces a serious climate change issue, that could have drastic consequences beyond just water scarcity for everyone on the planet. ​