The Anatomy of A Silent Crisis The Anatomy of A Silent Crisis

Case Study
The human impact of climate change – Already serious today 45
Mexico City — Running out of water
Hearing about the water crisis in the Sahara desert may not be surprising, but did you know
that fast growing urban areas, particularly mega-cities like Mexico City, Dhaka, Lima, and Addis
Ababa are also vulnerable to water problems. 130,138 In Mexico City water problems induced by climate
change — particularly decreased rainfall and increased variability — are compounded by human
factors, such as overexploitation, fast-growing populations, especially in squatter communities, and
outdated basic services that lead to sewage overflows and flooding after heavy rains. 139,140,141
In 2009 Mexico City has begun to completely shut down its water supply from an overexploited
basin, which normally provides 25 percent of total supply, for three days each month during dry
season. 138 This results in more water being drawn from other sources like groundwater. 139 As a result,
underground resources are being severely depleted. The city’s freshwater supply is currently at a
16 year record low level. 138 With precipitation in Mexico City projected to fall by 5 percent by 2020,
water availability is likely to worsen in the future. During the same time period, temperature will likely
increase by 1.2 degrees Celsius. 142 Mexico City has 18.6 million inhabitants, the 10 th largest city in
the world. 141 Safeguarding access to clean water and thereby the health of residents is a critical goal
in itself. However, it is also important to remember that assuring the availability of reliable supplies
of water for agriculture and industrial purposes is also crucial for economic stability in a city that
produces 35 percent of Mexico’s total annual GDP. 141
Key Sources: Jiménez, B., UNDP and Climatico