Understanding the Challenge
Mexico City, built upon a former lake system, naturally accumulates rainwater, causing seasonal floods. Climate change exacerbates this issue, with more frequent and severe storms causing costly damages. Ironically, the city faces one of the lowest water availability rates in the country.
The contrast is clear. Annual rainfall in Mexico City exceeds twice the amount received from the Cutzamala water system, causing floods that quickly disappear through drainage. Simultaneously, over-exploitation of the aquifer leads to ground subsidence in various areas, posing serious consequences for infrastructure and public safety.
From Threat to Resource
Rainwater should not only be seen as a risk but also as a valuable, underutilized resource. In nature, the water cycle is perfect: it rains, infiltrates the ground, feeds rivers, reaches the sea, evaporates, and returns to the clouds. In the city, this cycle is disrupted by concrete and drainage systems. Restoring balance involves replicating the natural process: allowing some water to infiltrate and recharge the aquifer while simultaneously capturing and storing it for use.
Besides public works like infiltration wells, there’s an increasingly accessible alternative: rainwater harvesting in public and private spaces.
Companies as Rainwater Harvesters
Factory roofs, shopping centers, and warehouses offer ideal surfaces for collecting large volumes of rainwater. With relatively simple systems, the water can be channeled into tanks or cisterns, filtered, and stored. Depending on the treatment level, it can be used for cleaning, toilets, irrigation of green areas, or industrial processes. Advanced technologies like ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, or UV light disinfection can even purify it for human consumption.
Technological innovation has made rainwater harvesting an efficient strategy. At Rotoplas, we integrate IoT sensors that enable real-time monitoring of tank levels, water quality, and consumption, optimizing management. This includes releasing space before a storm, detecting leaks immediately, or adjusting irrigation based on weather forecasts. Beyond environmental benefits, these investments offer measurable returns within a few years, combining cost savings with hydraulic resilience.
Circular Economy and Resilience
Adopting rainwater harvesting through a circular economy approach means transforming the linear “extract, use, discard” model into one of “capture, use, and regenerate.” Each liter retained by a company is a liter less saturating the drainage system and a liter not extracted from overexploited sources.
The goal is to replicate nature’s perfect water cycle: it rains, it’s utilized, it’s regenerated, and returns to the environment. This simple yet powerful model can address Mexico City’s dwindling per capita water availability, which has dropped to a fraction of what it was a century ago.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main challenge in Mexico City regarding water? The city faces seasonal floods due to its geographical location and climate change, which intensifies the issue with more frequent and severe storms. Additionally, Mexico City has one of the lowest water availability rates in the country due to overexploitation of aquifers.
- How can rainwater be turned from a threat into a resource? By implementing rainwater harvesting systems in public and private spaces, allowing some water to infiltrate the ground for recharging aquifers and capturing the rest for various uses, such as cleaning, irrigation, or industrial processes.
- What role do companies play in this process? Companies can act as rainwater harvesters by installing systems on their rooftops to collect, filter, and store rainwater for various uses. Advanced technologies can even purify the water for human consumption.
- What are the benefits of adopting a circular economy approach for water management? Transforming the linear “extract, use, discard” model into a “capture, use, and regenerate” one helps reduce drainage saturation, lessen pressure on overexploited water sources, and promote hydraulic resilience.
