Water Balance of the Cuautitlán Pachuca Aquifer, Mexico. Projections for 2021.

The Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico (ZMVM) is one of the most densely populated on the planet. The effect of the growth of urban areas on the decrease of water infiltration in the Cuautitlán-Pachuca aquifer (2011-2021) was analyzed. To calculate its water balance, rainfall, temperature, evapotranspiration, surface runoff and infiltration patterns were considered based on data from meteorological stations and their interpolation with the Kriging method, generating raster images. The water balance was calculated for 2011 with a deficit of -194.97 hm3/year based on an average infiltration coefficient. With values assigned according to land use and urban growth projected for 2021, the deficit will increase to -236.29 hm3/year. Urban growth and its influence on water infiltration provide elements for a more efficient aquifer exploitation policy.