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The Last Drops of Mexico City

One of the world’s most populated cities may run out of drinking water in the near future. Scenes from the parched megalopolis show how water scarcity could one day impact cities around the globe.

The reservoir lake has experienced some of the lowest levels in its history, making it harder for visitors to enjoy popular water sports in the area, such as skiing, flyboarding, paddle surfing, kayaking, sailing, and fishing. On a two-hour drive north of Mexico City into the state of Hidalgo, a deserted road cracked by the heat leads to the Endhó Dam, where shepherds graze their sheep nearby on the broken soil. Wastewater from Mexico City and several nearby factories, hospitals, a refinery, and a thermoelectric power station have contaminated the dammed water and wells that supply 15,000 people in surrounding communities.

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