Hermosillo mayor says city’s water assured through next year after rains

By Murphy Woodhouse
Published: Tuesday, August 30, 2022 - 8:39pm
Updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 7:21am

Hermosillio, Sonora
Murphy Woodhouse/KJZZ
Hermosillio, Sonora.

In recent years, Sonora’s capital of Hermosillo has dealt with serious water supply issues.

For two summers in a row, Hermosillo — Sonora’s largest city — came close to losing access to one of its key water supplies: the El Novillo reservoir. Its levels dropped so low that the pumps drawing from it nearly couldn’t operate.

But Hermosillo’s Mayor Antonio Astiazaran said that a recent week of epic rainfall has changed the situation, at least for now.

“Just from water stored by both dams,” he said, referring to the Molinito and Abelardo Rodriguez reservoirs. “Our supply for this year and next is assured.”

Some had raised concerns about heavy metal contamination in the Molinito reservoir 20 miles northeast of the city, but Astiazaran said proper treatment will ensure the water is safe.

Fronteras Sonora