| Most people have heard that you can't drink | | | | sitting in the water tank on top of the house |
| the water in Mexico, but most don't really | | | | for a while. Either of these areas can be a |
| know why. Most cities in Mexico have a good | | | | place where bacteria breeds and in really bad |
| water delivery infrastructure much like the | | | | cases, animals and bugs can get in an drown |
| United States and other developed countries. | | | | in the water. |
| However the water is only run for a few hours | | | | |
| at a time. So your house may only have water | | | | Because of the way water is transported and |
| coming in through the pipes from 8 to 10 pm. | | | | stored it isn't safe to drink-even if the |
| | | | water coming in as perfectly safe. In some |
| Because of this you have to store the water | | | | cases the incoming water isn't safe to drink |
| in a cistern under the house or parking area. | | | | either. Especially in Mexico City that is |
| When water comes through the pipes the | | | | build on an old lake. The ground is very |
| cistern fills up and then shuts off. Of | | | | unstable so it is common to have small |
| course with the water underground, there is | | | | earthquakes. Sometimes the water lines and |
| no way for it to have enough pressure to do | | | | sewer lines run close together and if a shift |
| anything useful. | | | | in the earth causes them to break it can |
| | | | cause problems. Since the water lines aren't |
| To overcome this, every house has a small | | | | pressurized all the time, a break may let in |
| water tank on top. A pump moves the water | | | | sewage instead of just seeping water out into |
| from the cistern to the water tank whenever | | | | the ground. Obviously this can cause a |
| it gets low. In addition to providing water | | | | problem for drinking water. |
| pressure, the tank offers additional water | | | | |
| storage for use during the 22 hours a day | | | | Most cities have a lot of bottle water for |
| that water is not flowing through the pipes. | | | | sale. You can get it from local shops or |
| | | | have it delivered to you. It generally costs |
| Now do you see the problem? Even if the water | | | | about $1.50 US, for 5 gallons of water, so it |
| comes in crystal clean, it is sitting in the | | | | isn't terribly expensive-especially since it |
| underground storage tank for awhile and then | | | | is only needed for drinking and cooking. |