Cutzamala Reaches 95.5% Capacity After Historic Drought

For the past five months, heavy rains in the Mexico City metropolitan area have transformed a near-catastrophic drought into a record-breaking recovery. After dropping to just 26% capacity in June 2024, perilously close to “Day Zero,” the massive water system that supplies over 5 million residents in the Valley of Mexico has surged to 95.5% capacity as of October 2025.

Located on the border between Mexico State and Michoacan, the Cutzamala System now stores enough water to secure at least two years of drinking supply for the region, according to Citlalli Peraza, Director General, Valley of Mexico Basin Water Agency (OCAVM).

“Our forecast indicates the system will reach 766 million m³ of water by Oct. 31, when rainfall typically begins to taper off,” Peraza said. “That would place 2025 among the Top 10 wettest years in the system’s more than 40-year history.”

The last time the Cutzamala reservoirs reached full capacity was in November 2003. The current storage levels in its three main dams, Villa Victoria, Valle de Bravo, and El Bosque, are enough to fill Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium 409 times, and projections suggest that by the end of October, the figure could rise to 425.

Tourism Industry Benefits

Across the basin, the transformation is apparent. In Villa Victoria for instance, water now spills slightly over the dam’s curtain, signaling an end to last year’s parched conditions. Valle de Bravo’s lake has nearly reached the edge of its urban area, submerging most of its iconic monitoring tower that once stood on dry ground. In addition, restaurants on floating docks bustle again, and sailboats, yachts, and tour boats fill the lake as visitors return to enjoy the rejuvenated scenery.

Controlled Water Release

Peraza explained that if reservoir levels continue to rise, controlled water releases could take place in Mexico State and Michoacan to prevent overflow. However, there is still a safety buffer of 45 million m³ across the three dams.

“In Valle de Bravo we can still store another 22 million m³, 10 million m³ in Villa Victoria, and just over 10 million m³ in El Bosque,”  Peraza said. Any excess water will be channeled to Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) reservoirs for hydroelectric generation, following controlled pathways that prevent flooding or crop damage.

“The water that cannot be stored will eventually flow through rivers and, finally, into the Pacific Ocean — all under controlled conditions,” she added.