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