March 12, 2016

Mexico City is sinking

Eco Watch - Mexico City is sinking. Home to 21 million people, who consume nearly 287 billion gallons of water each year, the city has sunk more than 32 feet in the last 60 years because 70 percent of the water people rely on is extracted from the aquifer below the city. Many of Mexico City's buildings are leaning because of the land subsidence.

The water table is sinking at a rate of 1 meter (3.2 feet) per year. As the city population grows and water demand increases, the problem will only get worse.

It’s not just Mexico City either. A recent NASA analysis found that 4 billion people—nearly two-thirds of the world population—are at risk as water tables drop all over the world.

2 comments:

Capt. America said...

All homes over a certain assessed value should be required
to have cisterns and to rely exclusively on rainfall and
condensation. (Not wells)

Unknown said...

That's a thought, Capt. America...