Mexican water?

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byndie1956

i would not drink anything with water unless you buy bottle water and if you have a refigerator and make your own ice. they say that get the ice that has a hole in it. I know just be careful because when I got back I was sick.....

.This is an entry about the condition of the drinking water in much of Mexico, the consequences of drinking it, remedies for what happens to your body if you do drink it, and tips for the prevention of some of the worst effects of drinking it. You see, Mexico is a famous example of a place where drinking the 'drinking water' may have serious, sometimes comical, sometimes embarrassing, sometimes dangerous, but always memorable consequences. It should also be noted that Mexico is by no means the only - or even the worst - place where 'drinking water' is not all that it is cracked up to be.

What is Drinking Water?

The term 'drinking water' is used very loosely. It should be used to describe large collections of molecules of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, bonded in a ratio of two to one (respectively), that are fit for human consumption. It is often not used this way. Rather, it is used to describe large collections of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, bonded in a ratio of two to one (respectively), that are being used for human consumption . There is a huge difference between those two statements that one's intestines may be quicker to appreciate than one's brain.

An example of how the term 'drinking water' is commonly (though wrongly) used, is the description of the water in Mexico as 'drinkable'.

Water in Mexico

The drinking water in Mexico is notorious worldwide for not being entirely drinkable for travellers. Yet the rural inhabitants of Mexico do drink it with no ill effects. This is mainly because they have built up a tolerance to it from drinking it all their lives. Many visitors to Mexico would consider the drinking water to be undrinkable, because so many of them become violently sick for 24-48 hours if they drink it. The reason is that the water is home to many and various single-celled organisms, which, as a group, are generally considered to be parasites. These inhabitants of the water do not mind being swallowed at all. They expect it, and love being swallowed. The parasites will use the unwary drinker as a host and, as a reward, will make the drinker violently ill for what often seems like an eternity. The notorious consequences of drinking Mexican drinking water are collectively described as 'Montezuma's Revenge' in honour of the late, great Aztec ruler whose hospitality to visitors from Spain was so rudely repaid.

Montezuma's Revenge

The consumption of tiny animal-infested water in Mexico will result in discomfort (often dire) for the person who drinks it. But what, specifically, can happen? Well, many things can... and usually do. The consequences can include:

Diarrhoea
Stomach cramping
Nausea
Light-headedness
Fever
... and other equally discomforting things, depending on the consumer and his or her allergies and general predisposition to the collywobbles.

Remedies and Prevention

If a person finds that they are sick after consuming any Mexican water, they should immediately contact a Poison Control Centre, and follow any instructions given. Usually, the discomfort will quickly take its course and be gone within 48 hours. Here are some prevention tips:

Do not drink Mexico's tap water, unless it is a life or death situation.

If you must drink the water, boil it (if possible) for at least three minutes per litre.

Drink bottled water bought in sealed bottles. Remember that ice in Mexico is made from tiny creature-infested tap water (they're just cold tiny creatures); it is just as bad to drink bottled water with tap water ice as it is to drink the tap water itself.

Contact lens wearers should use bottled water to clean their lenses.

People who are in the habit of brushing their teeth and washing their faces should also use bottled water.

Ps I have been to mexico and have gotten sick and it was not because of alcohol! it could of been from the water or from the food never know. But one thing is for sure it has been ten years and they have probaly have better water filters.

Yes it is true you can not drink the tap water and some of the ice is bad.
Every where you go and ask for water they will bring you a bottle. If you get ice, it should be long with a hole in the centre, this ice was made and bought rather than chipped off a block.

Italian Guy

Can I drink the water in Los Cabos?

The water supply for all of Los Cabos is piped from aquifers in the Sierra de La Laguna range.

All major hotels and restaurants have purified water. Bottled water is available in tourist areas. The water here is very pure, but be careful.

The pipes used for distribution of the water supply and other factors can lead to contamination. Although many people drink the water directly from the tap, it is not recommended. Anywhere in the world a change in drinking water can cause stomach distress.

They recommend that you drink only bottled or purified water. If there is any doubt in your mind, do not hesitate to ask for purified water "Agua Purificada" or bottled water.

Hearty

If you eat and drink in the tourist zones, you will be OK with the water.
When we go to Mazatlan Mexico we have mixed drinks with ice cubes, eat salads, etc..
I use purified water to brush my teeth and rinse the brush after.
DON'T WORRY - EAT, DRINK AND ENJOY

If you drink contaminated water anywhere in the world you will get the trots! tourista or Montezuma's revenge in Mexico.

If you are doing a lot of drinking you need to re-hydrate by drinking lots of water.

Don Colibri

While Mexico may still be a "third-world country" its tourist industry is definitely "first-world." In fact the conditions at most top Mexican hotels (4* and above) will be far superior to anything in the US. This is especially true in a place like Cabo. Nobody makes any money when the tourists are sick, so you will really have to work at it to get sick in an up scale place like Cabo!

In Mexico, almost nobody drinks water from the tap or makes ice cubes from tap water any more, everybody uses purified water. Almost all hotels have filtered water in their systems and bottled water readily available.

So normally you can brush your teeth with tap water and in restaurants just order bottled water. As long as you are drinking in hotel bars or upscale tourist restaurants and watering holes don't worry about the ice cubes and mixed drinks, they are fine.

(If you are drinking aguardiente all night with total strangers at illegal beach parties in the middle of nowhere, believe me you have much more to worry about than ice cubes.......)

And yes, all changes can upset your system, even when bacteria is not involved. We live in Mexico City and when we visit my family in Vancouver, my wife, my son and I almost always get a mild touch of diarrhea for a day or so after we arrive, .........in Canada!

oswaldo

viva mexico

marcela r

That is one of the biggest Urban Legends about Mexico. If it were true Americans would be dropping dead left and right, and no one would go back. Most American tourists get sick from binge drinking, than from from brushing their teeth with the water. If you are going to Cabo, you might be able to find Evian water at the stores, you know how the French are known for their "cleanliness". I am Mexican, and I have been drinking "your" water for 25 years and I am still alive!
Dude!!!???

erick

its not much the water in fact mexico has some of the purest water around its just the fact that your not used to that type of water so its not just mexico its anywhere you go actually so bottled water is recommended and dont worry if you do drink water the worst that could happen would just be stomach pain unless the water you drink is highly contaminated in that case it could cause gastritis, appendicitis, etc nothing fatal of course

ACACRIS

When chlorine is used to treat water is is not possible for any human being to get sick from drinking it.

Most Mexican cities are treating their water and the region of Los Cabos is one of them.

The reason is not the water but the complete change in diet and undercooked food.

I ear at home and most of the water I drink is purified and I have had no problem for ten years.
Because of droughts for extended periods of time Mexicans have put storage tanks on the roofs of their homes and they are not always sealed and mosquitoes and other parasites can get in.
Bottled water comes from the same tap source and is cleaned up and sold.

Kara

Ice machines are probably good. But, if I were you I'd bring bottles water. You never know.

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