By Eliane Portillo

The mayor of Mexico City, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, called on capitalinos to ration their use of water on Thursday after the National Water Commission (Conagua) reported that it will reduce the water flow to the city by 600 liters per second due low water levels at the dams in the Cutzamala water system.

Ebard stated that residents living in the most affected areas, Coyoacán, Iztapalapa and Benito Juárez must show solidarity and cooperate with their neighbors. He went on to say that he is currently meeting with officials from the Mexico City Water System (SACM) to create a strategy that insures that the water shortage doesn’t only affect those boroughs.

It’s extremely important for everyone to conserve water, Ebrard said. Honestly, it wouldn’t be a very large effort for each one of us but it is important that we make this effort to reduce water consumption, especially for those who will have no water at all. We have to show solidarity, that is what I am asking of all residents of the city.

Regarding the method which will be used to distribute water in the city’s 16 boroughs, Ebrard Casaubon said that they will make sure that the water tanks that supply the city with water do not fall below 40 percent capacity, adding that its possible that the water shortage could last two or three days.

If the water level falls even more, you’re going to have water shortages for two or three days, Mayor Ebrard said.