Why Mexico City is worried about Day Zero
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 25 June 2024
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
These days, there’s one thing that Raquel Campos isn’t taking for granted: water. Back in January, the taps went dry in her apartment in Mexico City. At first, she thought it was just her building, until she realized far more of the city was experiencing the same dilemma.
Mexico City is experiencing one of the worst droughts in its history. That, along with other factors such as leaky infrastructure, has left the capital’s critical Cutzamala water system dwindling to record lows. Throughout June, it has hovered at about 26 percent of its capacity. Water scarcity is affecting both lower-income and wealthy neighborhoods.
Today on “Post Reports,” host Elahe Izadi speaks with weather and climate reporter Kasha Patel about Mexico City’s water crisis and how the city – along with other parts of the world – is trying to tackle these challenges.
Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Monica Campbell and mixed by Sean Carter.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | These days, there's one thing that Raquel Campos isn't taking for granted, water. |
| 0:08.0 | Some days with water, some days without. |
| 0:12.0 | Back in January, the taps went dry in her apartment in Mexico City. |
| 0:16.0 | She'd turn on the faucet and nothing. |
| 0:19.0 | At first she thought it was just her building. |
| 0:22.0 | But then we realized that all the city was facing the same situation. |
| 0:29.0 | Of course I'm very worried because I mean water is essential. If there is no water, |
| 0:38.0 | schools will be closed, offices will be closed, restaurants, all the services will be closed. |
| 0:46.0 | Usually, Mexico City's weather is pretty mild. The average temperature hovers in the mid-60s, |
| 0:52.0 | and the rainy season stretches from May to May. the average temperature hovers in the mid 60s, |
| 0:52.6 | and the rainy season stretches from May to September. |
| 0:56.2 | But now those normal trends are out of whack. |
| 0:59.6 | For the past few years, actually, |
| 1:01.6 | with less rainfall, more drought, warmer temperatures. |
| 1:06.8 | Mexico City just recorded its hottest day on record in May. |
| 1:11.1 | It hit 94.46 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| 1:14.1 | Kasha Patel covers weather and climate for the post. |
| 1:17.1 | And when she saw that Mexico City was getting far less rain |
| 1:20.1 | this year, she knew a water crisis was building. Then came this dire warning. |
| 1:27.0 | I heard about this thing called Day Zero. |
| 1:31.0 | Mexico City, one of the world's most populous cities, could be just months away from running |
| 1:36.1 | out of water. |
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