The Facts:
On 12 July 2022, the federal government of Mexico announced that three states have immediate water emergencies: Sonora, Aguascalientes, and Baja California.
We could all see it coming. Our rainy season last year did not produce any sustained rainfall. The estuary is drier than we have ever seen it. We’ve all read about the drought, and the Colorado River drying up which is the main source of “imported” water here on the Baja. And we’ve seen those disturbing pictures of Lake Powell. Well, the drought has arrived here in La Misión.
Most shallow wells used by tanker trucks have run dry. CESP/T has virtually ceased providing water. The community to the south of us, above the estuary known as the ejido, is now using trucked in water to refill their pila because their well has run dry.
We members of La Misión Water Company are threatened in 3 ways:
• The level of the water in our well is declining.
• Resident members who normally use CESP/T must now rely on LMWC service.
• Excessive water usage will violate the limits of our CONAGUA license.
Five emergency measures effective immediately:
These measures are being taken to keep our well from running dry and to keep our license from being revoked by the government for overuse of the aquifer:
- The daily water allowance is reduced from 250 to 200 gallons per day.
- There is a moratorium on new meter installations until further notice.
- Over-users will be charged at twice the current rate for over-use.
- Landscape watering is prohibited. Save that water for essential human needs.
- Daily, we will turn off the water supply if we have pumped over 100 cubic meters.
If we work together and pay attention to reducing demand, we’ll have water 24/7.
Your Board of Directors, La Misión Water Company