MEXICO CITY

The great Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was admired by its European conquerors as a magnificent city in balance with its environment, floating on one of the five great bodies of water that surrounded it. Colonization and post-modern urbanization rapidly dried the lakes, depleted the underground aquifers, deforested the valley, permeated the soil and began a slow process of sinking the city.

Modern Mexico City, a federal district with over 22 million people has implemented detrimental water management infrastructure but in still suffers from flash floods, consequences of climate change and improper garbage disposal. One quarter of its water supply has its origins in seven artificial lakes coming on a pipeline more than 150 kms. long and politically challenged by the neighboring State of Mexico. In the meantime over 2 million people in the district of Iztapalapa have a scarce daily supply of water. The state must bring it to them in trucks. It is also the largest producer of urban sewage in the world.