La Paz Mayor Milena Quiroga Romero announced construction of a new surface water tank at Colina de la Cruz, a project designed to improve potable water supply in the city’s downtown core. The announcement, made on June 9, is part of the municipal government’s broader push to address chronic water shortages in the Baja California Sur capital.
The new tank targets one of the most densely populated areas of La Paz, where low water pressure and service interruptions have long frustrated residents. A surface tank at the Colina de la Cruz site will increase storage capacity close to the central zone, helping to reduce pressure deficits during peak demand periods.
Part of the “More Water for La Paz” Plan
The Colina de la Cruz tank is the latest project under Quiroga’s “More Water for La Paz” plan, a comprehensive strategy to strengthen hydraulic infrastructure across the city. In April, the mayor promoted three elevated tanks completed in the Diana Laura, Paraíso del Sol, and La Pasión neighborhoods, which together serve more than 19,000 residents who had suffered from low water pressure for years.
Those elevated tanks were designed to boost storage capacity and improve distribution in underserved neighborhoods on the city’s periphery. The new Colina de la Cruz tank shifts focus to the downtown area, where aging pipes and limited storage have contributed to inconsistent service for households and businesses alike.
La Paz Faces a Larger Water Crisis
La Paz, home to roughly 300,000 people, sits in one of Mexico’s driest regions and depends heavily on groundwater. Less than 25% of residential and commercial buildings in the city have water meters, creating little economic incentive for conservation. During dry season, demand routinely outstrips supply.
The municipal tank projects complement a much larger federal investment: the El Novillo Dam, which broke ground in December 2025 with a budget of 2.4 billion pesos (approximately $132 million USD). Once operational, El Novillo is expected to add 53 liters per second to the city’s water system and serve around 250,000 residents. The dam project also includes a 15-kilometer aqueduct and 22 elevated storage tanks to move water into La Paz’s urban distribution network.
While the dam remains years from completion, neighborhood-level projects like the Colina de la Cruz tank offer more immediate relief. City officials say the combination of local storage upgrades and the long-term dam project represents the most aggressive water infrastructure effort La Paz has seen in decades.
This story was first reported by Noticias La Paz.