Aiming for Water Equity in Mexico City
Mexico City faces an ongoing water shortage, with some areas receiving up to 500 liters of water daily, while others go without water for entire days.
To address this inequality, the Mexico City government has introduced the Water Wellbeing program, which offers affordable jugs of water to vulnerable communities.
Water Wellbeing Program in Action
The program began on January 8, 2025, with distribution points in three neighborhoods: Santo Domingo (Coyoacán), Quetzalcóatl Urban Development (Iztapalapa), and Santiago Tepalcatlalpan (Xochimilco). Each location received 150 jugs of water.
The government plans to expand distribution points from three to seven, increasing weekly production from 450 to 1,050 jugs. The program aims to distribute jugs to 738 communities, focusing on neighborhoods with high levels of poverty and water problems.
Distribution Locations and Access to Water
Residents can purchase a 19-liter jug of water for five Mexican pesos or buy the container for 80 pesos. They can also bring their own bottles to fill at the distribution centers.
Starting in January, distribution points will be available in all 16 Mexico City boroughs, including Pilares and Utopías, with more locations to be announced soon.
Long-Term Strategies to Address Water Crisis
The government aims to resolve the water crisis in Mexico City by 2027, with an initial investment of 30 billion pesos. Strategies include the rehabilitation of wells, infiltration of rainwater, redistribution of the water system, and modernization of distribution networks.