Question:
We are planning a trip to Mexico, and I am considering methods to ensurewe have safe drinking water throughout our TT. I know that the optionsrange from just using the fresh water tank filled with tap water and thenchlorinated with household bleach, all the way up to fairly expensivewater purification systems.

Answer: I have seen people down there with on-board purification systems but,IMHO, they are unnecessary. Most gringos don't bother with them. Weare moderately careful about where we fill the tank but notobsessively so. We use the water in the campgrounds for cooking andhot beverages. Bottled water is readily available and ridiculouslycheap. I forget whether it is 5 pesos or 2 that we pay for a 5 gallonjug - whichever it is, it is essentially nothing. I also avoiddrinking water whenever possible and substitute Tecate but that hasnothing whatsoever to do with the water quality and everything to dowith the calibre of the beer.

The only added precaution we take compared to travelling in the US orCanada is that we keep a pail of water with bleach in it right outsidethe trailer door. All fresh fruit and vegetables gets dunked in thatpail before we let it inside the trailer. We have never had anytrouble except for the time Marilyn drank coke with ice cubes in it ina restaurant.

The real problem with water in Mexico is that the pressure systems inthe towns are usually laughable by our standards. It is important tokeep your tank filled so that you can turn on the pump if therehappens to be no water pressure when you want to have a shower. Lastwinter in Mazatlan we met a guy from BC who is building a house downthere. They actually put a water reservoir in the house and the househas it's own pressure system because the civic water is so unreliable.And that is in Mazatlan which is modern compared to most of the placeswe like to hang out in.