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