Dangers of draining aquifers

Mexico City is an example of what happens when you don't manage your water. The city is sinking -- and has been for a long time. It's an issue we know in Arizona as well, where water pumping can cause subsidence and fissures. However, the problem in Mexico's capital is more acute. The Arizona Republic reported Friday that the city's sinking issue is getting worse fast. Parts of the city are sinking by as much as 8 inches per year. The growing water demand because of a population booms, as well as a poor location for a city in general, are the culprits. Crews are working to shore up the cities buildings. Sadly, the experts note that all they can do is work to stop the city from sinking because they can not turn back the clock. In Arizona, there are water laws to prevent such catastrophes, although there are still problems.

When I visited Mexico City in 2001, we went down to the plaza where all the government buildings are located. The site is built on top of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. The cathedral on the main square, built by the Spanish, is beautiful. And crooked. When we walked inside, my friend's cousins explained the the heavy materials used by the Spanish contributed to the cathedral's problems. Crews were working on it nine years ago and continue to do so today.