Domestic water demand management: implications for Mexico City

Abstract

The City of Mexico, one of the largest and most crowded megalopolises in the world, is struggling to provide enough water to an ever-increasing population. Although cuts have been common for a number of years, the crisis has lately extended, affecting well over 5 million inhabitants. The problem is only expected to get worse, compounded by the following factors:(1) Main supply relies on overexploited aquifers and distant external sources.(2) As the ancient city was constructed on top of a lake, parts of the metropolis are gradually sinking.In consequence, wastewater discharges have to be pumped out.(3) About 40% of all the incoming liquid is lost in leaks, due to an old piping system and seismic activity.In light of this complex crisis, the authorities have failed to find an adequate solution, since the aim has traditionally been to find new external sources, that is, a supply-side strategy. This article analyses a different approach, focused on demand-side management, and discusses alternatives from a quantitative and qualitative point of view, using the retrofitting of sanitary facilities as an example. Successful experiences in other cities are presented, along with a discussion of the main obstacles to overcome. It is concluded that the potential for such strategies are considerable in Mexico City, but adequate financial stimulus for conservation are urgently needed, along with a change of perspective on behalf of government authorities, to focus on demand reduction rather than on costly, and in most cases impractical, augmentation of supply.

Defining domestic water consumption based on personal water use activities

“…A key determinant in these reported values is the extent of outdoor water use, which can vary significantly based upon the local climate and building preferences, making it difficult to compare values from different areas and different studies. Also, water demand management and conservation efforts could lead to more efficient use of water (Adler 2011), with related water reduction. However, such efficiency improvements are limited by aspects such as current practices, behaviour, available technology and affordability.…”

Water: consumption, usage patterns, and residential infrastructure. A comparative analysis of three regions in the Lima metropolitan area

“…There is a need to focus on reducing demand (Adler, 2011). The strategies for saving water mentioned most often in the reviewed literature were counted and classified into four kinds: patterns, infrastructure, policy and price (Figure 2).…”

Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Urban Policies. A Review of the Cases of Lima, Mexico City and Santiago de Chile

“…The development of this institutional framework is aimed, on the one hand, at improving the management of existing resources (avoiding waste and losses) and, on the other hand, at obtaining the financial resources necessary for the maintenance and extension of the existing network, the provision of the service was outsourced to four private companies who managed different parts of the city but also competed with each other [101]. In this sense, an approach based on the control of domestic consumption has prevailed, using initiatives like a metering improvement, pricing policies or replacement of sanitary facilities [102]. In Mexico City, moreover, problems related to water quality are especially acute, to the point that it is a source of important health problems, especially in the case of children [103,104].…”