. Earth Science News .
WATER WORLD
'Desperate for water': drought hits Mexican industrial powerhouse
By Sofia Miselem
Monterrey, Mexico (AFP) July 10, 2022

Maria Celia Navarro smiles wistfully as she remembers the now-unthinkable luxury of taking a shower in her home before a water shortage struck one of Mexico's wealthiest cities.

Nestled in mountains a few hours' drive from the US border, industrial powerhouse Monterrey boasts living standards that many Mexicans could only dream of.

Residents of the northern city, whose metropolitan area is home to around five million people, have in general been spared the chronic lack of services that plagues many poorer areas of the country.

But for several weeks, a heat wave and dearth of rain means that Monterrey has had running water for only a few hours a day.

In disadvantaged neighborhoods perched on hills, it has been more than 50 days since some residents last saw a drop from their faucets.

"I'm desperate for water," said Navarro.

The 73-year-old, who is in frail health, said she feels "very depressed" sheltering from the sun in her small, poor ventilated house in the municipality of Garcia.

Even the city's elderly residents say they cannot remember a time when Monterrey's households had to cope with so little water.

- Filling buckets -

Despite being a modern and thriving city, home to transnational firms, few houses are equipped with water tanks, which are common in other large cities including the capital Mexico City.

"They weren't needed," said municipal councilor Javier Torres, who supervises tanker trucks bringing water to Garcia, where whole families run outside with buckets to collect the precious liquid.

Many residents of Monterrey -- capital of the prosperous state of Nuevo Leon -- fill improvised storage containers in their homes, unable to afford a large tank due to skyrocketing prices.

A semi-arid climate means that each summer, when the average temperature hits around 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit), authorities have to monitor the level of several reservoirs supplying the city.

The water in one had dwindled to less than one percent of its capacity by the end of June, while another was at seven percent and a third at 44 percent, according to the national water authority.

Samuel Garcia, Nuevo Leon's 34-year-old state governor, has said a pipeline leak is partly to blame, adding that he "is not Tlaloc" -- referring to the Aztec rain god.

Cloud seeding -- a technique used elsewhere in Mexico to try to provoke rain by dispersing chemicals in the sky -- is one of his proposals to tackle the problem.

- Companies lend hand -

Monterrey faces an uncertain outlook due to 15 months of scant rainfall and insufficient management of water resources, according to expert Antonio Hernandez, who closely follows the city's environmental woes.

Farmers and a booming industrial sector dominated by production of soft drinks, beer, steel and cement have been subject to few restrictions despite the drought, he said.

Radical measures such as halting commercial activities "seem unthinkable to me at the moment," Hernandez said.

Last week, after negotiations with federal authorities, businesses and farmers agreed to take steps to ease the shortage.

"Companies have stopped operating for a few days a week to save water," Torres said.

"There are businesses that have sent us water to be able to supply some neighborhoods," the councilor said.

On Monterrey's outskirts, the reservoir La Boca looks as empty as a dozen restaurants located on its recently renovated promenade.

A cracking lakebed and boats left high and dry by the receding waters now greet visitors.

"We'd barely caught our breath after the pandemic and then the drought began," said 26-year-old waiter Adrian Luna, who fears that the boat trips and horseback riding will become a distant memory.


Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


WATER WORLD
What is a pond? Study provides first data-driven definition
Ithaca NY (SPX) Jul 07, 2022
Nearly everyone can identify a pond, but what, exactly, distinguishes it from a lake or a wetland? A new study co-led by Cornell University offers the first data-driven, functional definition of a pond and evidence of ponds' distinct ecological function, which could have broad implications for science and policy. "The lack of a universal pond definition causes a lot of confusion, from people wondering about the difference between a pond and a lake, to aquatic monitoring programs with different de ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

WATER WORLD
Child among nine killed in Pakistan mine flood

Belgium army steps in as asylum system overwhelmed

Rescuers gather body parts after Italy glacier collapse

Rescuers gather body parts after Italy glacier collapse

WATER WORLD
Smart textiles sense how their users are moving

US giant 3M agrees big payout in Belgium chemical scandal

WVU researchers won't hit snooze on mattress recycling needs

Chinese ice cream brand under fire for products that don't melt

WATER WORLD
Pacific leaders struggle to keep focus on climate at key summit

'Desperate for water': drought hits Mexican industrial powerhouse

Wellington wastewater a security headache for China

What is a pond? Study provides first data-driven definition

WATER WORLD
'In the mouth of dragons': Melting glaciers threaten Pakistan's north

Italy blames climate change for glacier collapse, 7 dead

Dinosaurs took over amid ice, not warmth, says a new study of ancient mass extinction

Thawing permafrost is shaping the global climate

WATER WORLD
DataFarming bringing Pixxel's hyperspectral imaging to Australian farmers

Amazon, Just Eat deal to offer free Grubhub delivery in US

Ploughing and tilling soil on slopes is jeopardizing future farm yields

Wildfire threatens major Greek olive grove

WATER WORLD
16 dead in flash floods at Indian Kashmir pilgrimage site

Volcano's eruption will help scientists plot weather, climate

I.Coast June floods killed 19: official

Thousands more flee as Sydney floods track north

WATER WORLD
Six soldiers killed in jihadist attack in southeast Niger

DR Congo politicians urge stricter weapons monitoring; Ugandan private kills two in DRC east

Niger says bloody jihadist attack crushed

US warns of jihadists and Russian forces as Africa war games end

WATER WORLD
Experts developing wearable technology to support women to remain active as they age

White children are more likely to be overdiagnosed and overtreated for ADHD

Connectivity of language areas unique in the human brain

Rainforest chimpanzees are digging wells for cleaner water









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.