Drought-stricken Mexico gets some relief from Tropical Storm Alberto

State of play: Experts estimated urban areas like Mexico City could this month reach "day zero" when there is no longer enough water to pump when faucets are turned on.

• But tropical storm Alberto, which passed through last week, brought heavy rains that filled some dams that had been at historic lows due to rising temperatures and lack of precipitation.
• The water supply systems of cities like Monterrey, in the north, are now at full capacity.

Yes, but: Rain so far hasn't been able to make up for the water scarcity in Mexico City, one of the largest urban areas in the world, which has been rationing for months — an indication of how major metropolises are being affected by climate change.

• The largest water supply system to Mexico City — the Lerma-Cutzamala series of dams, storage tanks, pipes, and pumping stations — only increased from 25% to 26% capacity in the last week.

What they're saying: "This hasn't solved the major issue of ensuring water supply to the city unless the heavy rains fully continue," says Fabiola S. Sosa-Rodríguez, professor at the Autonomous Metropolitan University in Mexico.

• "The risk of getting to day zero is still there," adds Sosa-Rodríguez, who studies water management and climate change mitigation.

She adds more needs to be done by authorities and citizens, including better maintenance of aging pumping stations and pipes to prevent leaks, and propping up rainwater collection for industrial as well as home use.

• "These tasks have been pending in the past few years, and they must be done while we find other water access sources" to avoid leaving ground aquifers completely dry, says Sosa-Rodríguez.

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