Rainwater harvesting as a strategy to reduce water stress in peri-urban areas

The water crisis, driven by overexploitation, pollution, climate change and accelerated urbanization, constitutes an urgent challenge for metropolitan municipalities such as RHS Tecámac, State of Mexico. This study analyzes, through quantitative projections, a potential scenario derived from the adoption of rainwater harvesting systems (RHS) by the organized population in the Community Drinking Water System of Tecámac, AC (SAPTEMAC), based on the social appropriation of knowledge and autonomous management of this technology. An integrated assessment of the water footprint and water scarcity index (WSI) was conducted, and the potential for through RHS was estimated, based on standardized methodologies such as AWARE and official data from CONAGUA, INEGI, and the National Meteorological Service. The results estimate a total water footprint of 34.6 million m3/year and a WSI of 0.699, reflecting severe pressure on local water resources. The analysis conducted in Tecámac by Felipe Villanueva, municipal seat of the municipality of Tecámac, indicates that active community participation would strengthen the technical and social viability of RHS as nature-based solutions (NbS). An annual catchment potential of 899,005 m3 is estimated, equivalent to 2.6% of local water demand. This approach demonstrates that the articulation between sustainable technologies, technical evidence, and community governance can generate replicable, cost-effective, and resilient solutions in vulnerable urban contexts.