Oaxaca City water shortage: It’s getting to breaking point.
Oaxaca City has a water shortage, and it’s quickly becoming a big, big problem. But the thing is, most visitors to Oaxaca would be oblivious to the fact.
The reality is that Oaxaca City and its surroundings require 1,200 litres per second, but local water utility SOAPA currently is only able to provide 400 litres per second at best, which is extracted from 27 underground and two surface water sources.
So when Hotels, AirBnB’s and restaurants always have water (delivered by truck), short-term visitors don’t realize just how dire the water situation really is.
So this post is about trying to raise some awareness to the problem Oaxaca City has with water. Ensuring that as visitors we all do our bit to conserve as much water as we can.
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Why does Oaxaca have a water shortage?
While tourism defiantly plays its part, it’s not the only reason for the shortage.
Oaxaca’s water shortage can be put down to a variety of factors: Growing population, tourism, climate variability, geographical factors, infrastructure challenges and agricultural and big business water usage.
From reading newspaper articles, social media and talking to as many people as I can about this topic, the most common answers I get are tourism, bigger companies using all the water (e.g. Coca Cola, beer companies), leaking pipework and the cutting down of trees.
A big factor to the current water shortage is that last years wet season didn’t produce enough rain to fill underground aquifers, and the year before wasn’t that great either. Climate change? Oaxaca relies heavily on its wet seasons to be able have enough water to get through the dry season where it doesn’t rain for 6-8 months at a time.
How often do people receive water?
So coming towards the latter end of the dry season now, March, some neighborhoods (including where I live) are only receiving water every 30-45 days. Therefor, the water just doesn’t last. So more has to be purchased from a ‘pipa‘ water truck to fill up either underground cisterns/tanks, or the smaller tanks which are on each roof called ‘tinacos‘.
As Oaxaca keeps winning various awards for ‘best city to visit’, tourism is really exploding. Hotels and restaurants get priority for pipas over regular Oaxacan households wanting water. Here is where it’s starting to ruffle a few feathers for anti-tourism and the pinche gringos (Mexican Slang). People can’t get water trucks because there’s just not enough available. If you’re lucky, there might be a 5-10 day wait.
With supply and demand, the price of a water truck just keeps getting more expensive and it’s becoming ridiculous for people to pay these amounts. Water is big business! Oaxaca City doesn’t have an endless supply of mains pressure water like what you’re probably used to. It gets rationed here.
Just recently, the hospital ISSSTE protested because they need more water while already using as little as possible of what they have available to them. You can read about this here in Spanish. Hospitals not having enough water could become health risk.
What are the solutions for the water shortage?
In short… there are none currently… pray for rain! There are just bandaid fixes for now. It’s becoming a crisis and in dire need for some long term solutions.
A local guy I know who works for the government says comprehensive studies are required to locate where underground water systems (aquifers) are, how much water is available there, how deep, to determine the best places to economically put more wells (pozos).
According to this article, there are studies in the pipework starting in May 2024 and concluding in February 2025. Which will include a diagnosis, alternative solutions, plans, technical and economic studies, and how to improve existing infrastructure.
A couple stats I have read in news articles but unsure wether they are factually correct 1). 40% of the the water is lost to leaks. I find that number quite high, but you get the point. The infrastructure and pipework is old in some areas and needs renewing which is a massive job, and expensive. 2).Water table is dropping 30-40 cm’s a year, which means the wells need to be dug deeper. But there are also issues with that because it can often be through rock.
Tourism awareness can play it’s role here too and we need to spread the word. Hotel and AirBnB owners should be educating guests at check-in (if not already) about the severity of the water shortage. Also with a note or something in the room advising guests to use as little water as possible.
New Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido super highway in 3 hours
Some local articles to read (in Spanish)
Enfrenta SOAPA estiaje con infraestructura obsoleta
Con agua para todas y todos, gobierno de Oaxaca atiende la escasez del vital liquido
La sed se extiende y agrava en la capital
Se disparan precios de agua en purificadoras
Water saving tips to use while visiting Oaxaca
All these water saving tips are already programmed into each and every Oaxacan. It’s us foreigners who need to be aware and educated. Every little bit counts!
Limit your time showering – Yeah we all love a nice long hot shower, but it just wastes so much water. So get in, quick wash and jump out. That wasted water while waiting for the hot water (if you have hot showers) can also be saved and caught in a bucket to reuse.
Limit toilet flushes – It’s not necessary to flush the toilet every time you do number 1’s. Just when required 😉
Bathroom – Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth, shaving etc…. All these little things add up.
Kitchen – Be mindful when washing your dishes by not having the tap running the whole time. Catch any water for rinsing vegetables to be reused for washing or watering plants.
Leaking pipework/taps – If there’s any dripping taps, leaking toilets, or any leaking pipework around the hotel/house, let the owner know straight away.
To sum it up…
Water is like liquid gold in Oaxaca. As each year passes, we’re getting closer to a real crisis point. So if you are visiting Oaxaca, be conscious of the fact and try and do your bit to use as little water as possible 🙏
