TODOS SANTOS WATER CRISIS
Without water there is no future.
Solving the Todos Santos Water Crisis
Long-time Todos Santos resident and geologist Dr. Robert Bentley spent years studying the Todos Santos Aquifer. Bob passed away in 2019 but left us his thoughts:
“If the Todos Santos Springs die from overuse, surely the prosperity of the pueblo dies as well.”
“My basic conclusion is that the groundwater from the Todos Santos aquifer is not being replenished by rainfall as fast as it is being used. Therefore, the amount of water in the future will not sustain both agricultural use and urbanized expansion. What this means is a hard decision must be made on how to limit its use.”
The chart below demonstrates Dr. Bentley’s warnings about overuse have come to fruition and now there is a serious water crisis facing Todos Santos residents, businesses, ranchers and farmers as the explosive growth in development and farming has caused explosive growth in water consumption that is simply not sustainable.
In October of 2023, CONAGUA, the Water Ministry for Mexico, reported a 2023 extraction rate of 6.6 million cubic meters (mm3) from the aquifer, an amount that is almost double the calculated average annual recharge of 3.7 mm3.
The chart below shows the over-extraction if the current extraction growth rate of 11% per year continues.
This chart is based upon extraction and recharge data from CONAGUA, the Water Ministry for Mexico. It represents the growth of extraction from 2013 to 2023 and predicted the growth for 2026 and 2029 based upon the past 3 years growth.
In addition to over-extraction there are two other threats facing our water supply.
Saltwater Intrusion
A 2017 study by Colorado State University determined our aquifer is suffering from seawater intrusion up to 2.6 kilometers inland causing permanent water quality and capacity problems.
When the water is over-extracted and the water level in the aquifer drops, the problem is exasperated by saltwater intrusion into the aquifer. As a result, it reduces the capacity of the aquifer’s fresh water supply and also threatens our farms because saltwater will kill the plants. In addition, it threatens the health of our oasis.
The Arundo Infestation
Carrizo, called Arundo in the United States now covers the entire Todos Santos aquifer and is depleting groundwater resources through its voracious water consumption. It grows up to 3 inches per day while choking out native plants and reaching a height of 30 feet.
We have calculated the Arundo may be consuming as much as 150 million gallons of water per year while slowing and choking the flow of water from the spring to the town for distribution. The two palm trees in the middle is where the spring emerges from the aquifer.
Our Water Crisis Demands Immediate Attention
Our water crisis demands immediate attention of both our community and concerted action by OOMSAPAS, the Municipality in La Paz and the local Ejido who provide water to the community to reduce the extraction rate to an amount equal the recharge rate as required by federal law.
The only way to prevent the aquifer from running dry is by acknowledging the threats and embracing solutions. These include:
Enhancing the capture of water to the aquifer
Building holding ponds or installing storage tanks to capture water for later use during hydrological events.
Tracking and managing our water consumption and water levels on an ongoing basis
Upgrading our distribution system plagued by leaks and delivery shortages caused by too many homes connected to the water mains.
Implement water conservation programs to reduce water use.
Here’s How You Can Do Your Part:
It is critical that we all use water wisely. Here are recommended conservation measures:
If you don’t have it, install a drip irrigation system to save 60-80% on water use.
Plant native and desert plants that need less water.
Have a discussion with your gardener on ways he can reduce water use.
Use water from your washing machine, showers, sinks and faucets to either flow directly into your yard to water plants or collect it for future use.
Install a pool cover if you have a pool. Nine vertical feet of water will evaporate annually from a pool and covering it will reduce evaporation by 90%.
Get Involved
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If you observe any violations of the PDU and environmental regulations included on this website, please contact us, and we will investigate your concerns and take appropriate action.
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We are a group of citizens doing our best to protect our beautiful pueblo. We would love to have your help as we work to fight against illegal development and create more regulation and oversight into our limited natural resources.
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