La Paz Mayor Milena Quiroga outlined the city’s multi-pronged water strategy during a World Water Day forum at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS), pointing to the El Novillo dam as the centerpiece of a long-term plan to address chronic shortages in the state capital.
El Novillo is the first major water retention project built in La Paz in roughly 40 years. President Claudia Sheinbaum led the groundbreaking ceremony in December 2025, and the federal government has committed approximately 2.4 billion pesos (about $133.6 million USD) to complete the dam between 2025 and 2027. Once operational, El Novillo is expected to supply around 53 liters of water per second, serving some 250,000 residents.
New Infrastructure and a 15-Kilometer Aqueduct
The dam project includes plans for a 15-kilometer aqueduct and elevated tanks to move stored water into La Paz’s existing distribution network. The project is also expected to generate roughly 700 direct and 1,400 indirect jobs during the construction period.
This builds on earlier infrastructure work in La Paz. In September 2024, city officials inaugurated the La Buena Mujer water purification plant, a 175-million-peso investment that added 70 liters per second to the distribution system and improved service to at least 12 neighborhoods and 13,000 residents.
Crackdown on Water Theft
Quiroga also addressed the problem of water theft, known locally as “huachicoleo.” Real-time monitoring of pipelines has reduced illegal extraction from an estimated 200 tanker trucks per day to significantly lower levels, according to the mayor. That reduction has allowed more water to reach homes through the formal distribution system.
The city’s broader strategy involves shifting away from over-reliance on groundwater extraction toward surface water sources and rainwater harvesting. La Paz sits in a desert climate where aquifer recharge rates are low, and years of population growth have strained existing sources. Less than 25% of residential and commercial buildings in La Paz currently have water meters, a longstanding issue that weakens conservation incentives.
Chronic Shortages and What Comes Next
Baja California Sur has experienced rapid population growth in recent years while water access has remained a persistent challenge. The El Novillo dam is intended to reduce dependence on vulnerable groundwater sources and improve the city’s self-sufficiency. Quiroga acknowledged past corruption in water management during the forum but framed the current efforts as a turning point.
The governor of Baja California Sur, Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío, has called El Novillo the first hydraulic project of this magnitude in the state in over 30 years. Completion is expected by 2027.
This story was first reported by the La Paz municipal government’s news portal, noticias.lapaz.gob.mx.