Improvements of the water usage in the Mexico City Metropolian Area

Abstract

Mexico City Metropolitan Area is located at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level, has a surface of 5000 Km2 and a population of 19.1 million whose water supply and usage represent a serious problem of sustainability and development. The efficient supply and usage of water resources is crucial for a city characterized by industrial centers , a wide range of economic activities and densely populated urban areas. In a systemic study of water sustainability , in progress at Instituto Politécnico Nacional, there were identified six sets of problem areas: 1) General issues, 2) Sources 3) Uses 4) Distribution , 5) Industry and 6) Management. In this paper it is presented a set of solutions to the second and third partial problems: how to improve the water supply and usage of water under a sustainable development of Mexico City Metropolitan Area . First of all, there are defined several relevant subsystems. relationships and specific problems. Then it is defined a structure to analyze systemically this part of the total problem and finally some solutions are proposed in the short, medium and long term , for example avoiding the unsustainable uses of ground water sources.