**Major Water Disruption in Tijuana: Otay-Airport Aqueduct Leak Leaves Residents Without Supply**
On October 4, 2024, a significant water leak in the Otay-Airport Aqueduct, near the Magisterial neighborhood, led to over 110 neighborhoods in Tijuana losing their water supply. The State Commission of Public Services of Tijuana (Cespt) assured residents that repair efforts would take approximately 20 hours, aiming to restore service by 8:00 PM the same day. However, as of Saturday afternoon, many affected areas are still without water.
This recurring issue has sparked frustration among Tijuana residents, who noted similar disruptions on September 16. During that incident, a leak was supposedly fixed in a different section of the same aqueduct. Local residents, like those from Lomas Taurinas, express their irritation, pointing to the inadequacy of short-term fixes. “It’s very bothersome to be without water, needed for everything from bathing to cleaning,” lamented one resident.
Neighborhoods still affected by the water outage include Tomás Aquino, Otay Universidad, Otay Módulos, Del RÃo Parte Alta and Baja, Empleado Postal, Libertad Parte Alta and Baja, Alta Brisa, Buena Vista, and 20 de Noviembre. Cespt has communicated through social media that they anticipate full restoration of water service by Saturday evening.
**Secondary Report: Tijuana Faces Chronic Infrastructure Challenges**
The recent leak in the Otay-Airport Aqueduct is just one instance of a broader infrastructure challenge that Tijuana faces, impacting thousands of residents. With aging pipelines and insufficient inspection routines, water outages and leaks have become a frequent occurrence across the city.
Experts argue that the city’s rapid growth has outpaced its infrastructure, necessitating significant investment and modernization to prevent future disruptions. In addition, better communication between authorities and residents is needed to manage expectations and responses during service interruptions. This persistent issue underscores the urgent need for comprehensive infrastructure planning to meet Tijuana’s rising demands.