By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken

“Can I drink the water?” is a common question asked by tourists and travelers in Mexico. Decades ago, in the early 1970’s, in Mexico, as in many other places in the world, the answer was generally, “Stick to soda or beer right from the bottle.” At that time during our early visits to Mexico. “And what about ice?” we would ask, as many tourists still do. “Never drink liquor or soft drinks with ice,” we were advised.

The penalty for not heeding this advice often occurred a few hours later. The dreaded travelers’ diarrhea variously called Montezuma’s revenge (or other names such as Delhi Belly according to location), and accompanied with cramps and necessitating frequent trips to the bathroom, felled many visitors. Sometimes the cause was bacterial or viral contamination in the water or ice, but frequently the cause was simply that the concentration of minerals in the water was different from what was customary to the travelers’ gastrointestinal tracts. You may have noticed this if you have welcomed visitors from Mexico to the United States or Canada, and they experienced similar symptoms.

The Garrafon – Bottled Water, Better Water

Over time, the questions about drinking water stayed the same in Mexico, but the answers changed. Perhaps the largest shift in the question and answer for drinking water occurred in the late 1980’s and throughout the 1990’s, when bottled water became available and popular throughout Mexico and the larger world. The sight of garrafones – large water jugs – filled with purified water and outfitted with a hand pump became ubiquitous in the kitchens and common areas of hotels and rental units. Ice was frozen from garrafon water in small inns, and hotels purchased large bags of ice made from purified water. A covered pitcher of water from a garrafon with a couple of glasses were often left on tourists’ bedside tables.

But then the plastic-bottle craze swept the world. From small bottles of purified water that barely quenched an ordinary thirst to large bottles that required herculean strength to transport, drinking water gradually filled many shelves in tiny bodegas in rural villages and in huge city supermarkets.

Drink Enough to Avoid Dehydration

Today, advice about drinking water in Mexico is generally “Drink water with every meal and whenever you’re thirsty – but leave the single-use plastic bottles on the shelf.” This advice is based primarily on two factors: the health of the humans drinking the water and the health of the planet. Over 60% of our bodies are composed of water. Water is needed by virtually every organ in our bodies. We are constantly eliminating water from our bodies in trips to the bathroom and between (by perspiring and breathing). We need to replenish our water levels frequently in warm climates. Even a minor lack of water or dehydration can result in very unpleasant symptoms – headaches, cramps, and even high fevers.

Travelers to Mexico who arrive by plane should be aware that they are likely to arrive dehydrated unless they take full advantage of the free purified water served on the plane. The very low humidity onboard and the difference in air pressure act to deplete the water in bodies. Drinking alcohol has a diuretic effect (more frequent trips to the bathroom) and further dehydration. So seriously consider asking the cabin attendants for agua rather than cerveza or vino. And when they come through the aisles with cups of water, grab one. You’ll feel much better when you land fully hydrated.

Upon reaching your Mexico vacation destination, keep drinking water. Although a common assumption is that adults need eight glasses each day, there’s actually a range of individual needs determined by gender, body weight, health status and notably environment. Obviously high temperatures result in more perspiration – so if you’re vacationing in Mexico’s wonderful beach towns and resorts or exploring architectural ruins in the jungle, you’ll need to drink more water (unless you ordinarily live in a tropical climate). High altitudes also lead to fast water elimination, so if you’re in Mexico City or another mountainous area, your drinking water needs will also increase. Exactly how much you should drink is not easily answered, but drinking enough water can be simply gauged by paying attention to how frequently you’re thirsty. If you find you’re often thirsty, start drinking more and more frequently until you find you’re rarely experiencing a dry mouth and throat.

Don’t worry about drinking too much water; cases of water toxicity (hyponatremia) are extremely rare in healthy people and have been mainly attributable to athletes who have decided to dramatically increase their water intake to as much as 6 liters in three hours before a race. You can monitor whether you’re under- or overdoing the drinking water by the color of your pee: if it’s a deep yellow, drink more; if it’s almost clear, drink less. On the other hand, excessive perspiration and more frequent urination can result in an imbalance of salt and other minerals essential for life – easy to remedy by taking a daily vitamin/mineral pill and if needed downing a bottle of electrolyte water available in most Mexican supermarkets – but given the sugar or other sweeteners added, it’s best not to make a habit of electrolyte water.

You’re Good, But All Those Plastic Bottles???

Okay, you’re convinced to drink more water in Mexico. But where can you get a safe supply? For the sake of the health of the world, please don’t get your needed daily intake of drinking water from the little plastic bottles supplied by many hotels in Mexico, sold in restaurants and stocked in an obvious place in many Mexican groceries. One good environmental way of handling your water needs is to bring your own empty water bottle; after you’ve passed through security, head to the nearest water fountain and fill your bottle for drinking after you’ve landed and before you reach your lodging. At top-tier hotels and restaurants you can almost always be sure the water served is safe to drink and ice is made from purified water –and you can ask your server to refill your water bottle for when you’re off to the beach or a day trip.

Staying Good with the Water

If you’re not sure about the water in your less expensive hotel – use their garrafon or head to the nearest market and buy the biggest bottle of water you can carry back to your room. The larger the bottle, the less expensive the water per milliliter and the greater chance the bottle can be recycled. There are many reputable brands such as Bonafont, Ciel and Epura, owned by Coca-Cola.

If you’re staying in a condo – ask the owner about the quality of water. If it can’t be guaranteed as safe, the owner will likely provide a garrafon of water – sometimes at an extra cost but a worthwhile expense. If you’re staying in an area that was developed by FONATUR (the federal agency in charge of increasing tourism), chances are a water purification system was set up for the whole area. Where we stay in Huatulco, not only is there municipal water purification but the condo association has its own secondary purification system, and the refrigerator water dispenser has a filter – so we’re largely independent of store-purchased water.

If you’re planning on traveling to rural undeveloped areas in Mexico – places where water comes from a river where clothes are washed, people bathe, and sewage seeps in, bring packs of your favorite teas and just drink water that has been boiled. No need to ask for ice because there’s probably none to be found. But if you’re vacationing in the many beautiful places in Mexico where foreigners usually hang out, enjoy your margaritas and cervezas but remember – in addition to the good-time drinks, be sure to drink water.