Mexico City Fresh Water Shortages, Shutoffs & Restrictions
 

Hi - I just saw today that there's going to be a massive water shutoff in Mexico City for the next several days. I'm supposed to be traveling there over the weekend. Anyone have any idea whether hotels will have a backup source of water so I can take a shower? I haven't found any info about this in the local media online. Thanks!

https://www.npr.org/2018/10/31/662786981/mexico-city-goes-days-without-water-during-maintenance-shutdown

It’s not good news, I’m afraid. Due to extensive repairs needed for the Cutzamalá water distribution system, there will be massive water shortages affecting an estimated 3.5 million people in 13 mayoral districts in CDMX and 13 municipalities in the State of Mexico. The shortages crisis is expected to last six days. link This is actually Stage 3 of a series of water restrictions imposed by systems maintenance.

As of 31 October, for 72 hours there will be no water availability during the Cutzamalá repairs in Álvaro Obregón, Cuauhtemoc, Cuajimalpa and Miguel Hidalgo. It will take another 72 hours to fully restore service. Other areas shown below will suffer an estimated 30% reduction in water delivery.

Additionally, you can narrow it down by colónias here.

The drill:

31 October: water shutoff to affected areas began today, but water already in the system means there were no expected problems until after noon.

1 and 2 November: there will be no water service to the affected 13 mayoral districts in CDMX and 13 municipalities in the State of Mexico. Water deliveries by tanker trucks will be prioritized to schools, hospitals, asylums, congregate meals sites, markets, cemeteries and detention facilities.

3 November: conclusion of work on the Cutzamalá maintenance project and initial water flows in the afternoon.

4 November: filling of the citiy’s primary water distribution networks begins at 5:00 am.

5 and 6 November: water services and reservoir levels are expected to normalize, though high demands are expected as a result of water shortages occurring during the waterless period.

7 November: water service is expected return to close to normal levels, but areas still having shortages will be supplemented by water delivered by tanker trucks.

Hotels in most severely affected areas probably have cisterns, and may supplement the water with deliveries from tanker trucks. Those in areas with 70% of usual supply should see some reductions in water use. But at best, this would imply significant scarcity of water.

Areas denoted in dark red will be 100% without water.

Areas denoted in yellow will have 70% of usual supply.

Areas denoted in light blue will experience no shortages.

Thanks. My hotel claims it has cisternas and will not really be affected - but of course they'd say that, wouldn't they? I'm in the 100% zone (Roma Norte).

They’ll likely have some restrictions, in my opinion, because it’s hard to imagine a hotel’s cisternas and tinacos could hold all the water for several days of normal water use. Their optimism might be more indicative of the Latin and Middle East tendency to say what others would like to hear instead of the difficult truth. “Oh, we’ll have more water mañana.” Or in the ME, “Insha’Allah, we will have water tomorrow.”

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm thinking. Others I know in the city have also said I shouldn't have anything to worry about, but again - who knows.

Go to the market and buy jugs of water. That's what I would do.

My family in DCMX are affected and have modified their behaviors. That includes visiting friends who aren’t affected for baths or laundry, using water they’ve stored, and using a lot of humor. And many filled their cisterns, tinacos, buckets, tubs, pails and you name it, recycling water used to wash oneself to then flush, water or mop. But some are definitely affected by lack of water.

“When you live in the GAM (Gustavo A. Madero municipality with no water reduction), and there’s no water shortage from the Cutzamalá”

I am headed there on the 8th so I will remain hopeful (but dubious).

Already behind schedule.

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/wat...-hours-behind/

Just sing that line from Tommy ... ♫

"I had no reason to be over-optimistic, but somehow when you smile I can brave bad weather." ♫

I see

¡Suerte!

Mexico City Short on Fresh Water (again)
 

Mexico City has routinely been short on fresh drinking water for certain parts of the city. But usually this time of the year there's a lack of rainfall contributing to the shortage since the rainy season is about 2-3 months away.

For those visitors/tourists traveling here over the next few months, you may find that your accommodation(s) may have turned the access to water off to conserve. Or the city has turned it off. The worse places are outside the tourist areas where there's little to no running water. It's bad in some areas where the locals have demonstrated and blocked traffic demanding access to water.

Regular hotels/resorts will have water. It's just some colonias are restricted for a certain number of days. But they can generally store water on their rooftops that can be used sparingly.

I've dealt with this at several Airbnbs and stored extra water in large water bottles before it was shut off.

I'm only posting this for folks who plan to rent a private residence/airbnb outside the regular tourist areas, because you may experience the same thing.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/25/c...ntl/index.html

Below is the website that the city has setup to advise people where they can go and collect fresh drinking water that can be used for cooking too if your water is temporarily shut off.

https://aguaentucolonia.sacmex.cdmx.gob.mx/#/home

The water is stored in large trucks.