Ninety-five percent of Mexico's fresh water supply is contaminated, and 25 percent of the country's water treatment plants operate inadequately, according to a recent report published by El Economista. The report listed other scary statistics as well stating that thirteen million Mexicans do not have access to potable water and another 27 million lack proper drainage systems. The country is also draining 96 of its 653 aquifers faster than they can be replenished and nearly 40 percent of the water taken from sources in the country is lost to leakage and careless consumption The advisor on water and coastal regions for the United Nations Environment Program, Oscar Ramirez, warned that if action is not taken to deal with the current situation, the country could face a serious water supply problem within 10 years.

Source: Hoovers Online, 22 Jul 2002
WaterTech Online, 23 Jul 2002
UN Wire, 24 Jun 2002

Unicef, Access to Improved Drinking Water Sources and Improved Sanitation Mexico, Sep 2001, http://www.childinfo.org/eddb/water/latam/mexico...