Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda announced on March 23 that Ensenada’s annual water allocation will increase by 1.43 million cubic meters, raising the city’s total allotment to 10.43 million cubic meters per year. The additional Ensenada water allocation comes through CONAGUA (Mexico’s national water commission) and the Colorado River-Tijuana Aqueduct.
New Supply Routed Through Colorado River Aqueduct
The extra water is designated for domestic and public urban use, with priority given to vulnerable populations. Alonso Centeno, director of Ensenada’s local water authority CESPE (Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Ensenada), called the announcement a “historic day” and an act of “water justice” for the region.
Ensenada has long been one of the most water-stressed cities in Baja California. Unlike Tijuana and Mexicali, which draw heavily from the Colorado River, Ensenada historically depended on local aquifers and a small amount of rainwater captured behind the Emilio López Zamora Dam on the city’s east side. By 1996, the city held a 9 million cubic meter allocation from the Mesa Arenosa aquifer near San Luis Río Colorado, but competing demand from Tijuana and Rosarito meant Ensenada rarely received the full volume.
Chronic Shortages and a Growing City
A desalination plant that began operations in June 2018 added some relief, yet rationing and low water pressure remain common in colonias on the city’s periphery. Researchers at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California have documented aquifer overdraft, saltwater intrusion, and over-allocation of water concessions across the Ensenada region.
The new allocation represents roughly a 16% increase over the previous 9 million cubic meter baseline. Still, no specific timeline has been released for when the additional water will flow through household taps. The Colorado River-Tijuana Aqueduct, which runs roughly 130 kilometers from the Mexicali Valley to Tijuana, requires pumping infrastructure to redirect water south to Ensenada.
Ensenada’s population has grown steadily, with tourism, the Valle de Guadalupe wine region about 30 kilometers northeast of the city center, and commercial exchange with East Asia all placing added strain on supply. Governor Ávila Olmeda did not specify whether new pumping stations or pipeline extensions would be needed to deliver the increased volume, according to Punto Norte.