Mexico City Implements Mandatory Water Cuts Amid Severe Drought Crisis

Mexico City's council voted 42-8 on Wednesday to implement a phased water rationing system targeting the city's northern and eastern zones, where aging infrastructure has made supply shortages chronic. The measure takes effect August 1 and will affect approximately 2.1 million residents across Gustavo A. Madero, Iztapalapa, and Ecatepec de Morelos boroughs, according to the city's water authority.

The rationing arrives as the Valley of Mexico's aquifers have dropped to 56 percent capacity, the lowest level since 2009. Meteorological data shows the region received 18 percent below average rainfall this year through June. City officials say the immediate cuts are necessary to prevent complete supply failure while capital works proceed. The water authority estimates that one in three liters pumped into the city's distribution network is lost through leaks and theft-a problem that has persisted for decades despite repeated repair pledges.

What residents will face starting next month

Under the approved schedule, affected households will receive water service on alternating days. A resident in Iztapalapa will have running water on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for example, while a neighbor across the district might have Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday access. The council resolution states that hospitals, nursing homes, fire stations, and water treatment plants will not be subject to cuts. Residents with income below three times the minimum wage can apply for an exemption, though the council did not specify application procedures or expected approval timelines.

For families without storage tanks, the impact is immediate and concrete. Working households that depend on municipal supply for cooking, washing, and sanitation will need to purchase and install storage capacity or pay for water delivery trucks. A typical 1,100-liter tank costs between 1,200 and 2,500 pesos. Delivery truck water-the informal option many poor households currently use-costs roughly 80 pesos per 200 liters, making weekly needs run to 280 pesos or more. By contrast, the municipal water rate for households using up to 20 cubic meters monthly is 77 pesos.

The council also approved an emergency 8.5 billion peso capital budget for pipe replacement and leak detection in the three rationed zones. The water authority says it will prioritize streets where loss rates exceed 60 percent of flow. In some Iztapalapa neighborhoods, crews have identified sections where nearly two-thirds of pumped water never reaches household taps. The authority projects that completed repairs in the first phase will reduce system losses from 38 percent citywide to 32 percent within two years, freeing approximately 280 million liters daily for delivery to residents.

Timeline and what comes next

The council vote was split along borough lines, with representatives from unaffected central and southern districts voting 28-5 to approve. Councilors from the three affected boroughs split, with some citing the infrastructure investment as necessary and others opposing rationing without guarantees about implementation timelines. The city government says it will publish household assignment schedules by July 25.

City officials plan to expand rationing to Gustavo A. Madero and Ecatepec starting August 8 if the initial phase in Iztapalapa proceeds without major supply disruptions. If water availability worsens, the measure allows the mayor to expand rationing citywide. The council resolution includes a review clause requiring the water authority to report quarterly to the council on repair progress and system loss rates. No date has been set for when rationing will end, though officials say the goal is to suspend cuts within 18 months if pipe replacement proceeds on schedule.