"Mexico's Water Crisis: Development, Drought, and Lawlessness Strain Resources"

Valle de Bravo, once a popular weekend getaway for Mexico City's wealthy, is now a shrinking, polluted mud flat due to a combination of drought, water transfers to the capital, bad planning, and lawlessness. The lake is being drained by broken pipes wasting water, construction of private dams, and the unrestrained development of luxury compounds with private lakes. The National Water Commission has done little to address the problem, and residents and activists are unable to prevent the disappearance of their beloved lake. The situation has led to a significant decline in tourism, affecting the livelihoods of locals and property prices. The area's proximity to a region controlled by a ruthless drug cartel complicates efforts to address the issue, as reporting illegal private dams and reservoirs is risky.