The city of Hermosillo has received just a fraction of the rain it hoped for this rainy season, as the capital of Sonora, Mexico, tries to adapt to a drier climate.
The city recorded about 12 milliliters — or less than half an inch — of rain in June and July. The city says the historical average for those two months is about seven times that much.
The city was already struggling to quench the thirst of a growing population after two previous summers of low rainfall.
In response, Hermosillo says it’s reinforcing efforts to save water and boost supply. That includes attempting to get more homes and businesses water meters and improving technology to identify leaks. The city has long struggled with many homes and businesses lacking a water meter, and in recent months has tried to get meters to the around half of addresses that lack one.
The city has also increased the number of wells servicing its municipal supply over the past year.
