3 September 2008 198 views One Comment

If you are like millions of Americans who already drink bottled water exclusively, than adapting to the inconsistency of quality of water in Mexico shouldn’t be very difficult. In many places in Mexico it is highly recommended not to drink water from tap, while in other places it is perfectly safe. Often hotels and restaurants will purify their water for guests so it largely depends on your location. Puerto Vallarta is one area that has a good reputation for clean water.

Widespread Contamination

One of the problems with Mexico’s water supply is that many water reserves are from near the surface which makes the water susceptable to contamination. Another problem is the quality of pipes, where old infrastructure and harmful materials can also contaminate the water from the tap.

Supply Worries

According to the Mexico National Institute of Statistics report in 2008, Mexico’s average water supply is 465 billion cubic meters per year and is classified as a “low water availability country”. The water issues could develop into a crisis in the future, as reserves continue to deplete and the population continues to grow. According to the Mexico NIS, “roughly 104 of a total of 653 groundwater beds or rivers are over-exploited, resulting in a yearly decrease of six cubic kms in groundwater deposits”.

Tips for consuming water in Mexico

Bottled water is widely available, in retail stores such as Mexico’s largest retailer Wal-Mart. Peter Greenburg who writes for the AARP, suggests that you watch out for ice, which is often made from tap water. He also suggests the SteriPEN, a handheld device that can purify your water with UV light, which retails for about $100. Another good tip is to wash your fruits and vegetables with purified or bottled water to prevent them from being contaminated by bacteria in tap water.

Do you have any tips or experiences with the water in Mexico. Please share them here.