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Brugada Boosts Flood Control Plan in Xochimilco; 372 Million Pesos for Water Works Investment Planned
🇲🇽 Mexico /Disasters & Emergencies

Brugada Boosts Flood Control Plan in Xochimilco; 372 Million Pesos for Water Works Investment Planned

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada has launched a $372 million water infrastructure plan in Xochimilco to combat flooding.
  • The plan includes replacing drainage systems, building a pumping station, and rehabilitating water retention dams.
  • The initiative aims to improve water management for agriculture and protect the historic chinampa system.

Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada has initiated a significant water infrastructure project in the San Gregorio Atlapulco town within Xochimilco, allocating 372 million pesos to combat persistent flooding issues. The comprehensive plan targets seven strategic areas, aiming to mitigate the impact of heavy rains on the historically important agricultural region.

The project involves the complete replacement of the town's drainage network and the construction of a new pumping station to manage wastewater. These crucial works are slated for completion by December, marking a substantial investment in the area's resilience. "This objective we want is not achieved with one pipe, with one collector, it is achieved with many actions," Brugada emphasized, highlighting the multifaceted approach required.

As part of the immediate efforts, 22 gabion dams, designed to regulate water flow and reduce flood risk, have been intervened. Nine of these structures are new, while the rest have been rehabilitated. These dams are capable of infiltrating up to 237,000 liters of water per hour into Xochimilco's lower areas during rainfall. Additionally, the project includes the dredging of over 16,500 cubic meters of material and the construction of a 3-kilometer collector pipe to channel water from the higher Milpa Alta region.

This objective we want is not achieved with one pipe, with one collector, it is achieved with many actions

— Clara Brugada, Head of Government of Mexico CityBrugada highlighted the comprehensive nature of the water infrastructure plan, emphasizing that multiple actions are needed to achieve the goal of mitigating floods.

Further enhancing the plan, the San Pedro Atocpan Wastewater Treatment Plant in Milpa Alta has tripled its capacity, treating 60 liters per second. The initiative also encompasses upgrades to the San Lorenzo and San Luis Tlaxialtemalco treatment plants. Collectively, these three plants are expected to treat 280 liters of water per second, providing vital irrigation for Xochimilco's chinampa fields, which currently rely on treated water from Cerro de la Estrella.

Brugada underscored the cultural and agricultural significance of San Gregorio Atlapulco, referring to it as a "productive pole" and the "heart of chinampa agriculture" in Mexico City. She noted the town's historical importance, predating even the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, and stressed the need to restore the Xochimilco basin and its canals. This investment aims to protect not only the residents from floods but also the unique agricultural heritage of the area.

This town has more than a thousand years of history, we are not in any town, we are in a town that is older than Greater Tenochtitlan

— Clara Brugada, Head of Government of Mexico CityBrugada emphasized the historical and cultural significance of San Gregorio Atlapulco, underscoring the importance of preserving its heritage through infrastructure improvements.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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