Rainwater Harvesting Systems Installed in Mexico City Schools

Mexico City’s Ministry of Environment (SEDEMA) has installed rainwater harvesting systems in all public primary and secondary schools across Mexico City, a move expected to capture up to 918 million L of water annually. 

The installation, which began in December 2023, includes a total of 2,338 systems placed in various educational institutions. The initiative aims to benefit approximately 1.3 million individuals, encompassing students, administrative staff, and visitors at these facilities. The systems will support sustainable water use for cleaning, maintenance, and irrigation purposes. Institutions will use the harvested rainwater for activities such as hand washing, dishwashing, plant and garden irrigation, and the cleaning of classrooms, laboratories, patios, and restrooms.

In addition to providing a sustainable water source, rainwater harvesting systems are projected to mitigate 359.4t of CO2e annually. Moreover, the deployment of these systems will also help reduce the volume of water flowing into the drainage system, thereby decreasing the risk of flooding. It will alleviate pressure on the city's aquifer, distribution system, and extraction processes, while also reducing atmospheric pollutants associated with the energy used in operating wells and distribution networks.