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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Water cut off in Mexican capital | Water cut off in Mexican capital |
| (3 days later) | |
| Mexico City officials have shut down a main pipeline providing fresh water to millions of residents because reserves have fallen to record low levels. | Mexico City officials have shut down a main pipeline providing fresh water to millions of residents because reserves have fallen to record low levels. |
| The closure, due to last 36 hours, will affect five million people, or a quarter of the city's population. | The closure, due to last 36 hours, will affect five million people, or a quarter of the city's population. |
| Unusually low rainfall last year and major leakage are blamed for leaving reservoirs less than half full. | Unusually low rainfall last year and major leakage are blamed for leaving reservoirs less than half full. |
| Hundreds of water trucks have been deployed in the areas worst affected by the cuts. | Hundreds of water trucks have been deployed in the areas worst affected by the cuts. |
| The local government says it will carry out emergency repairs to the water supply network. | The local government says it will carry out emergency repairs to the water supply network. |
| More than 50% of the water carried by the pipeline leaks out before it reaches its destination. | More than 50% of the water carried by the pipeline leaks out before it reaches its destination. |
| This is the third time the capital has faced such a drastic form of water rationing this year, the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City reports. | This is the third time the capital has faced such a drastic form of water rationing this year, the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City reports. |
| It has been deliberately timed to coincide with Easter weekend, when many residents, or at least those who can afford to, leave the city, our correspondent says. | It has been deliberately timed to coincide with Easter weekend, when many residents, or at least those who can afford to, leave the city, our correspondent says. |
| Mexico City was once a floating city, built on a spectacular chain of volcanic lakes, and flooding used to be its main environmental threat. | Mexico City was once a floating city, built on a spectacular chain of volcanic lakes, and flooding used to be its main environmental threat. |
| But since the lakes were finally drained in the 1960s, the city has been struggling with its water supply, our correspondent says. | But since the lakes were finally drained in the 1960s, the city has been struggling with its water supply, our correspondent says. |