Drinking water in Pahuatlán, Mexico: a social study, a water
quality investigation and a technical solution

Abstract: This project was conducted in Pahuatlan, an indigenous community in the
state Hidalgo, located in central Mexico. In Pahuatlan there is need for an
improved health situation. People are frequently getting ill and problems
such as diarrhoea, eye infections and skin irritation, all of which can be
water related, are common, especially among the children.

The foremost objective with this project was to evaluate the water quality
of the drinking water in Pahuatlan and, if necessary, find solutions to
provide a safe supply of drinking water. The approach was to give a
multidisciplinary description of the situation, which implies that many
factors are taken into consideration, including forexample natural
prerequisites and socio-cultural aspects. Priorities, habits, possibility to
participate, motivation and knowledge are examples of what was included in
the socio-cultural investigation. The quality of the drinking water was
investigated by sampling and analysis.

Based on our own and earlier investigations of the water quality and the
health situation in Pahuatlan the bacteriological drinking water quality
needs to be improved. Most microbiological contamination is probably caused
by the local population and animals and contamination routes are poorly
understood by the inhabitants. The inhabitants were interested in the
project and they were participating in all phases. It was easy to
communicate with the people and we were accepted and respected in the
community. A drinking water treatment system was implemented in one of the
wells in the community. The system consists of a pump, disinfection with
chlorine and a carbon filter. The system was appreciated and accepted by the
inhabitants, they contributed financially and they learned how to use the
equipment. According to a pilot study the equipment function satisfactorily.