"When Quetzalcóatl found Xólotl, he reconsidered and said to him: because you refused to be sacrificed to give life to another element, you will remain here for all your life. But the day your element, water, is no longer useful, you will vanish from the face of the Earth along with humankind." – A folktale about the Axolotl, inspired by the Five Suns legend.
Mexico City, the largest city in North America, was once a society thriving with water. The Mexicas navigated in canoes, created chinampas for farming, and developed intricate water systems. However, after the conquest, this symbiotic relationship was shattered. The lakes were drained, rivers diverted, and the lacustrine culture was lost.
Now, centuries later, the city faces severe water stress. About 33% of its water comes from external sources, and outdated infrastructure causes a 40% loss through leaks. Droughts exacerbate the strain, and many parts of the city lack access to water.
How do we face the paradox of living on water and yet running out of it? How are we making amends?
We must reconcile with our past, avoid forgetting our history, and advocate for policies that ensure water is a right, not a privilege.
Alejandra Rajal is a Mexican freelance documentary photographer. She is a member of Women Photograph and Diversify Photo. Her work focuses on trying to understand how humans connect with the world we live in and the complexities surrounding belief systems in stories of climate change, drugs, gender, religion and violence. Alejandra has been awarded fellowships from the IWMF, National Geographic Society, and Fujifilm, and collaborates regularly with media outlets across the Americas and Europe.