Research Project

Proposal
Hayden Pezzoni

Mexicos Clean
Water Problem

Memorandum

TO:

Dr. Robert Arnold

FROM:

Hayden Pezzoni

DATE:

April 7, 2015

Abstract: The water scarcity and pollution problem in Mexico is widespread

and seemingly unavoidable. My research will analyze in-depth the problem our
bordering neighbor country is experiencing with pollution and scarcity of the most
valuable natural resource, Water. In sum,
Introduction: Mexico has varying water issues across the entire country.
Ranging from how potable the tap water is, to how tainted the purification systems
are, even how available water is throughout the semiarid topography. For the
betterment of our neighbors, this issue of potable water scarcity is one that ought to
be addressed and researched. This research topic came to mind while I was serving
on a mission trip over spring break in Tecat, Mexico. Im researching the issue
because of the interest and realization of how life-threatening polluted drinking
water is in Mexico.
The differences between the resource scarcities there and the almost
indelibly available resources here are quite shocking, especially after living in such
conditions for a week. While there, we were warned to only use the tap water for
washing our hands and showering with closed mouths/eyes, because of the poor
chlorination and unrecognizable (to the naked eye) bacteria in the water. In
researching and ameliorating this issue, we could also solve other issues that may
appear to be unrelated like immigration, drug trafficking, and violent crimes, which
could stem from the poor conditions the inhabitants dwell in. Prices for bottled
water are exorbitant simply because there is no limitation on the price and the need
is well-known by stores selling the resource. In some instances, this creates tension
leading to numerous and increasingly serious conflicts driven by cartels and other
dangerous groups.
Solutions include providing items like Brita water filters and lessons on water
purification methods and recyclability of plastic bottles. Long term solutions mainly
include modified pilot multi-stage filtration (MMSF) systems in rural poverty-stricken
communities, which will collect, treat, and filter out rain water. Both solutions can be
economically feasible, given the circumstances of the donations and generosity of
the world organizations involved.

Problem: Currently, more than 12 million people in Mexico lack drinkable

water, yet, if 3% of the countrys average rainfall were captured, treated, and
distributed, 13 million people would be supplied with water. 15 % of total watercollecting abstractions in Mexico deal with areas that cannot afford to have water
drawn from those aquifer sites, since they are nearing depletion.
Objectives: There are many solutions to this problem, as water scarcity is an
international issue occurring on just about every continent. The focus is on what the
country of Mexico already has an abundance/deficit of when dealing with potable

water scarcity. Why Mexico has these problems in the first place could also be an
interesting point or statement to make.
Solution: In a few Municipalities and States, operations are taking place (on
a small scale) to either construct or renovate the water management and filtration
systems. On an even smaller scale, a few world relief organizations have stepped in
and provided items like Brita water filters and lessons on water purification methods
and recyclability of plastic bottles (to alleviate the in-disposable waste problems).
Long term solutions mainly include modified pilot multi-stage filtration
(MMSF) systems in rural poverty-stricken communities, which will collect, treat, and
filter out rain water. Aquifer recharge has been studied in-depth in many regions
across Mexico and mainly the most prominent solution to the issue of producing
potable, usable (for irrigation of crops) water is to centralize the filtration of the
water in each bacteriological decontamination system within an aquifers region.
(Robles et al., 2011).
Cost: In one case, an estimated $4.8 million US dollars was needed for a 25
foot pipe connecting a 530,000 gallon holding tank in El Naranjo, Mexico to be used
for aquifer recharge and crop irrigation of the Maneadero region (Mendoza-Espinosa,
2004). Another cost analysis researched was Mexico Citys plan to spend $40 million
dollars to tap into a mile-deep aquifer in order to supply some of the city with an
estimated century of drawn drinkable water.

Conclusion: Purification projects like this in Mexico do exist and are

prevailing in hopes of providing these people the necessity they most in life. The
research on this issue will allow me to think about possible solutions and ideas to
think about supporting, if I am ever financially capable of doing so, and even what I
can begin to do now in terms of voting or regulating relief organizations work
efforts.

Bibliography:
"Mexico Managing Water Shortages | Water Crisis Management Study." Growing
Blue. Growing Blue, 8 Apr. 2013. Web. 02 Apr. 2015.
(This source explains the issues that deal with the irrigation techniques and costs
that are depleting the water sources in Mexico currently. The sources Mexico uses to
draw its water from are becoming increasingly degraded and overused. Ultimately,
this article states that the solutions to be brought about for the revitalization of the
issue would be that more policies are needed to restrict the over usage/degradation
of water resources.) http://growingblue.com/case-studies/mexico-managing-watershortages/

--"Pollution and Inadequate Distribution Networks Are Affecting Mexico's Water

Supplies." Explorando Mxico. Editorial Team of Explorando Mxico, n.d. Web. 02
Apr. 2015.
(This source highlights the issues faced with the filtration and distribution of water
to Mexican people. The article states that though many people in most of Mexico
have the required infrastructure for transporting/receiving water, most lack the
filtration/purification needed for the water to be drinkable. The rest of this article
overlays the data on pollution and problems of the water resources with certain
numbers regarding the costs and amount of people affected.)
http://www.explorandomexico.com/about-mexico/8/297/
--Robles E, Ramirez E, de Guadalupe Sinz M, Duran A, Gonzlez M.
Bacteriological and Physicochemical Study on the Water of an Aquifer in Mexico.
Universal Journal Of Environmental Research & Technology [serial online]. April
2013;3(2):158-172. Available from: Environment Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed
April 2, 2015.
(This source describes in detail what aquifers are and why they are being
threatened in some areas of Mexico. The article lists what Mexico has done with
their aquifers (divided into sections, each section with adequate aquifer amounts of
water), and how the potable water coming from these aquifers will not meet certain
standards for health and safety. There is also some geological data, seeking to
familiarize the topography of Mexico to the readers who might be interested in why
geology affects aquifer recharge/drinkability. Mexican aquifer number count and
details) https://librarylink.uncc.edu/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=eih&AN=90478131&site=ehost-live&scope=site
--Chaidez C, Soto M, Martinez C, Keswick B. Drinking water microbiological
survey of the Northwestern State of Sinaloa, Mexico. Journal Of Water & Health
[serial online]. March 2008;6(1):125-129. Available from: Environment Complete,
Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 2, 2015.
http://hl5ka4cm7m.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.882004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/ProQ
%3Apqdiearthsci&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitl
e=Journal+of+Water+and+Health&rft.atitle=Drinking+water+microbiological+surv
ey+of+the+Northwestern+State+of+Sinaloa%2C+Mexico&rft.au=Chaidez%2C+C
%3BSoto%2C+M%3BMartinez%2C+C%3BKeswick
%2C+B&rft.aulast=Chaidez&rft.aufirst=C&rft.date=2008-0301&rft.volume=6&rft.issue=1&rft.spage=125&rft.isbn=&rft.btitle=&rft.title=Journal
+of+Water+and+Health&rft.issn=14778920&rft_id=info:doi/10.2166%2Fwh.2007.0
11 (severity/numbers of what is impacted)

--Mendoza-Espinosa L, Orozco-Borbn M, Silva-Nava P. Quality assessment of

reclaimed water for its possible use for crop irrigation and aquifer recharge in
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Water Science & Technology [serial online]. July
15, 2004;50(2):285-291. Available from: Environment Complete, Ipswich, MA.
Accessed April 2, 2015.
https://librarylink.uncc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=eih&AN=26699416&site=ehost-live&scope=site (Baja area,
Ensenada, Mexicos water filtration/purification plant)

https://librarylink.uncc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=eih&AN=61893084&site=ehost-live&scope=site (Solution: MMSF
or modified pilot multi-stage filtration)

http://search.proquest.com/georef/docview/289885945/563EF7D457A24F06PQ/8?
accountid=14605