The Cutzamala System is in a better position to face the heat waves expected for the year 2025. Up until the last update of 2024, the water supply system in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico managed to store more than 500 million cubic meters, equivalent to 64.19%, almost doubling the amount of water accumulated compared to 2023, when it only reached 323.73 million cubic meters.
Although, as of February 27, 2025, storage dropped to 60.38%, it is still nearly 20 points higher than the levels of the previous year. According to the former director of the National Water Commission (Conagua), José Luis Luege Tamargo, despite this increase, the current storage of the Cutzamala System is still below the historical average, indicating that the recovery is not yet complete.
Luege clarified that the concept of "Day Zero" does not mean that the water resource is completely exhausted but refers to the possibility that Cutzamala may stop supplying water to Mexico City and the State of Mexico due to low levels in the dams. During 2023, Cutzamala provided the city with a total of 413 million cubic meters, distributing 253 million to Mexico City and 159 million to the State of Mexico.
It is projected that 2025 will bring up to five heat waves, each lasting between six and seven days, suggesting that it will be a hotter year than the previous one. In terms of the dams that make up the Cutzamala System, such as the Villa Victoria reservoir, Valle de Bravo, and El Bosque, they have shown significant recovery in their storage volume.
In an interview, José Luis Luege also warned about the presence of water theft, pointing out that organized crime has been conducting illegal water extractions in the upper area of Cutzamala, jeopardizing the supply of this vital liquid to Mexico City and the State of Mexico. Despite an improvement in storage levels, it is crucial that the population uses water consciously, avoiding waste in activities such as washing cars with hoses and watering gardens. In Luege's words, "We must make an effort for more conscious use and not waste water."
