Mexico City and Bogotá are on the brink of severe water shortages, reminiscent of Cape Town's 2018 crisis, due to El Niño-induced drought.
Jake Bittle reports for Grist.
In short:
- Mexico City and Bogotá are experiencing extreme water shortages, with reservoirs rapidly depleting.
- Both cities have implemented water rationing measures, urging residents to reduce consumption.
- Cape Town's successful response to a similar crisis serves as a potential model but poses challenges due to different local conditions.
Key quote:
“The bigger question, and what's relevant for other cities, is now that we’ve experienced this, what can we do going forward to make sure that this doesn’t happen again?”
— Johanna Brühl, water expert at the nonprofit Environment for Development
Why this matters:
Water scarcity can lead to conflicts, displacement, and exacerbate inequalities, particularly affecting the most vulnerable communities. It's a stark reminder that water, a seemingly abundant resource, is finite and must be managed with care. Effective solutions can safeguard against future droughts exacerbated by climate change. For example, capturing and reusing urban storm water could be a boon for water-stressed cities—if we can find a way to clean it up.
