Integrated Water Management Practices in Mexico and Their Impact on Local Drinking Water Quality: Efficient Assessment Methods

Abstract

While supplying safe drinking water is a critical issue in the development of nations worldwide it has not been formalized as a requirement by the United Nations (UN). As a result, efforts to bring modern water distribution to the citizens of developing countries have resulted in greater access to unsanitized water. As has been observed in Mexico, governmental centralization can leave municipal governments weak; lacking the essential resources and skills to manage water distribution systems. This study sought to examine the water distribution system San José de Gracia, Michoacán in Central Mexico using readily available water quality testing kits. A further objective of the study was to use EPANET models of the water distribution system to examine how chlorination and pumping regimes affect water quality in this town. Sampling sites and indicators were chosen using Rapid Drinking Water Quality methods promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite being classified as having “improved” potable water by the WHO, the water distributed in the town was not found to be safe for human consumption. Costly inefficiencies in the distribution system were found to be built in that make the chlorination system in use obsolete.