Mexico City, Mexico – Dario Solano-Rojas, a professor of geological engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, walks through Mexico City’s historic Zocalo district, pointing out signs of a subterranean catastrophe that is unfolding. The city’s central plaza has uneven roads, sloped and twisting streets and walkways, and many building foundations have sunk dramatically. The Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Metropolitan Cathedral, two iconic structures of the city, appear to be disappearing into the earth. Inside the cathedral, Solano-Rojas shows a glass-encased box connected to the ceiling by a taut wire, indicating how the cathedral has shifted over the centuries.
Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate, with parts of the city descending into the earth by as much as 40cm annually. This sinking is driven by a deepening water crisis that has roots going back 500 years. The city’s reliance on underground water has led to the draining of the underground aquifer, causing the ground above it to settle and the city to sink further. Despite the urgent need to stop extracting water from underground, Solano-Rojas acknowledges that this solution is unlikely.
The historical problem of water scarcity in Mexico City dates back to the Spanish conquistadors draining the lakes and building over them, leading to a diminishing local water supply. As the city grew and consumed what water remained, subsidence began, causing a host of issues including listing buildings, uneven roads, and compromised infrastructure. The city is losing a significant amount of water due to leaks in broken pipes, exacerbating the water crisis.
The looming water crisis has already reached a critical point, with many residents experiencing irregular or complete lack of water supply. While the concept of “Day Zero” is often discussed as a future event, for many residents, it is already a reality. Stopgap solutions can only provide temporary relief, highlighting the urgent need for long-term sustainable water management strategies.