Cutzamala System at 70.7% Capacity After Summer Rains: CONAGUA

Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA) reported Tuesday that the Cutzamala System has recovered to 70.7% of its capacity following recent rains, marking a significant improvement compared to last year’s severe drought conditions.

The Technical Committee for the Operation of Hydraulic Works said that the country’s 210 main reservoirs now hold 65.03 million m³ of water, representing 52% of their capacity. Over the last 15 days, reservoirs gained 2.49 million m³.

Daniel Arriaga Fuentes, Deputy Manager of Operational Hydrology, CONAGUA, noted that despite the gains, storage levels remain 8% below the historical average of 71.48 million m³ for late August.

Currently, 41 reservoirs are above 100% capacity, 63 are between 75% and 100%, 52 range between 50% and 75%, and 54 remain under 50%, mainly in drought-affected regions.

Citlalli Peraza Camacho, Director, Basin Agency of the Valley of Mexico, said the Cutzamala System is now storing 552.92 million m³, up from 67.5% just a week earlier. Within the system, Valle de Bravo reservoir reached 78.8%, El Bosque stands at 61.7%, and Villa Victoria holds 63%.

By comparison, the Cutzamala was at only 27.9% capacity on Aug. 25, 2024, storing just 218.2 million  m³ due to widespread drought across the country.

Officials said the recovery underscores the importance of rainfall in stabilizing the water supply for the Valley of Mexico, though storage remains below average and drought conditions persist in several regions.