The Zimapán hydroelectric dam, also known as Engineer Fernando Hiriart Balderrama, executes a controlled discharge to manage the high volume accumulated after the recent rains, with discharge towards the Montezuma RiverThe operation aims to preserve the safety of the reservoir and minimize risks to the riverside communities.
In parallel, municipal, state and federal authorities activated prevention protocols: in the communities of Las Vegas y The Attachments around 100 people were notified 400 people and logistical support, shelter, and basic supplies were deployed in case of possible communication cuts due to the increased flow.
Controlled opening and reservoir levels
The operation was determined by CONAGUA and CFEThe flow started in the morning with about 360 m³ / s and gradually rose to the 500 m³ / s, in line with the protocols for high-contribution events.
Of this volume, the discharge is distributed with approximately 441 m³/s through the landfill y 59 m³/s per turbine, which allows controlling the water level and sustaining generation without compromising the integrity of the infrastructure.
The decision responds to reservoir levels on the edge of 100% already a meteorological scenario that keeps the region under reinforced surveillance, with hourly monitoring of the behavior of the river and its tributaries.
This is the third time in which the dam has carried out a manoeuvre of this magnitude in recent decades, following precedents in 2003 and in 2021 September, when the maximum flow rate approached 500 m³/s.
The technical teams maintain permanent monitoring flow and storage to adjust the opening and modulate the flow according to the evolution of rainfall and the response of the hydraulic system.
Impacts and measures in communities of Hidalgo
En Las Vegas y The Attachments, the flooding of the Montezuma River makes mobility difficult and can leave sections cut off, so residents were advised Do not approach the riverbed or attempt to cross it, remove animals and belongings from the shores and keep children and the elderly away from risk areas.
The Zimapán City Council, headed by Hermilo Trejo Rangel, began a preventive deployment with units and personnel in the potentially affected areas from the early hours of the morning. house-to-house notice and support for vulnerable families.
The operation, coordinated by Civil Protection and Firefighters, had seven elements, two units and an ambulance, in addition to the Municipal Public Security Secretariat and staff of the Human Resources Department. They were distributed Food supplies, 20 cots with mats, 50 blankets, mobile radios and hand tools.
A was also left ready temporary shelter to be activated if the situation requires it, with the provision of basic care while normal traffic and services are restored.
The authorities insist on stay informed through official channels and take extreme precautions, given that the evolution of the flow depends on the rainfall in the basin and sub-basins that feed the reservoir.
Impact on Querétaro and regional coordination
The outflow towards the Moctezuma has forced the State Water Commission (CEA) to temporarily suspend the Aqueduct System II, since the flow rate of 500 m³ / s drag mud and vegetation that prevent the safe operation of the pumping equipment at the diversion dam.
To mitigate the urban impact, the CEA activated plans contingency with alternate sources, backup wells and network optimization, while technicians continually assess water quality and conditions for resume service as soon as feasible.
The maneuver is executed with inter-institutional coordination between CONAGUA and CFE, and communication with authorities of Querétaro and San Luis Potosí, given that the water flow affects several riverside towns along the Moctezuma system.
At the moment there is no one defined period for the closure of the outlet or for the complete normalization of Aqueduct II; both processes depend on the hydrometeorological evolution and the level of the Zimapán reservoir.
In the regional context, the latest CONAGUA report places 19 dams at 100% capacity in the state, therefore, reinforced surveillance and preventive warnings are being issued to the population living near waterways and diversions.
The priority of the institutions is to maintain the infrastructure security and communities: fine-tuning of spending, early warnings and emergency resources will continue to be active until the flow of the Moctezuma and the reservoir storage recover safe parameters and the affected services are restored.