Mexico City’s Mayoral Candidates Present Water Crisis Solutions

In the middle of a severe water crisis, Mexico City’s mayoral candidates have taken center stage as they propose ideas on how they would handle the present shortage, which has affected millions of people.

Santiago Taboada, Mayor of Benito Juarez and opposition coalition candidate for PAN, PRI, and PRD, has proposed reviewing the water extraction process. Taboada says that if he wins the election, he will not lead a government that allows the construction of more wells in the city, adding that operations to extract water from wells must stop.

"We have to review, of course, the operation of the companies that are exploiting many of these wells today," Taboada says.

Taboada promises that if he becomes the city's next mayor, he plans on making Mexico City Water System (SACMEX) the best public organization that distributes, treats, and stores water. “Our approach and how we understand SACMEX’s functions, as well as its top priorities, is fundamental. An important element that must be considered is the financial autonomy of the water system,” he says.

The coalition candidate also proposed a new modality to treat and fix leaks.

Clara Brugada, MORENA’s candidate and Iztapalapa’s former mayor, says that if she wins the election on June 2, she will work in a coordinated manner with the federal government and authorities from the State of Mexico to fix the problem.

Brugada says that it is a lie that Mexico City is running out of water, since 80% of its supply comes from underground and the remaining 20% ​​from the Cutzamala water system, which stands at less than 40% of its capacity.

“Historically we have had water problems, but we are not going to run out of water. Our opponents have even set a day zero for when we are going to run out of water, this is a lie, they are using it as a political campaign strategy,” says Brugada.

If Brugada wins the election, she promises to solve the water scarcity problem by applying a city program that would incorporate the State of Mexico and guarantee water supply.

“This water problem is not just Mexico City’s problem, we must incorporate the State of Mexico to guarantee water supply to the entire metropolitan area. We must address this as a state policy,” says Brugada.

She also says that it is necessary to create a program that does not reinvent itself every six years, but would rather allow water to infiltrate the subsoil to store millions of liters of water.

“To achieve this, we need to build large regenerative water treatment plants,” says Brugada.

SACMEX recommends taking the following steps to save water:

• Limiting the use of washing machines and reusing the water used in washing machines to wash floors and sidewalks.
• Avoiding using potable water to wash cars, patios, or sidewalks.
• Reducing the flow of sink water to a minimum when doing laundry and when taking a shower.
• Reporting street water leaks by calling 5589574950 or through social networks: @SacmexCDMX on X and @SistemaDeAguasCDMX on Facebook.