What's Up With Mexico Utilities - Water, Toilets and Phone?

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By Kathleen Crislip

Question: What's Up With Mexico Utilities - Water, Toilets and Phone?

Answer: Yes, you can drink the water in Mexico. Carefully.

About Drinking the Water in Mexico

Drinking the water from the tap in Mexico is asking for digestive trouble unless you're going to be there for more than six months and your innards can get used to the local bugs. Even then, you may be ingesting parasites and raw sewage that can cause the mega travelers' trots.

• Hotel room tap water
  • Sink water - even the cheapest Mexico hotel will supply bottled water in your room if the tap water is not potable (shouldn't be drunk). If you don't see bottled water in your Mexico hotel room, look for aplaque or sign proclaiming potable tap water; even with that disclaimer, you may prefer bottled water but you can be assured brushing your teeth is safe.
  • Shower water - if you can't drink the sink water (see above paragaph), don't let the shower water into your mouth. A partial mouthful of water in Mexico is enough to make you sick. Nothing in the water is going to hurt your external body during a shower.

Tip: remember to buy extra bottled water for your hotel room at night if you're drinking booze -- don't be double sick the next day from dehydration *and* guzzling the tap water.

About the Toilet in Mexico

If there is a wastepaper basket next to a toilet in Mexico, it means you are to deposit your used toilet paper in the wastepaper basket. The wastebasket's placement may mean that a septic system is in use which can't handle loads of toilet paper without expensive maintenance. It's tough not to automatically put toilet paper in the toilet in Mexico -- remembering that you could accidentally wreak havoc helps.

How to Make a Phone Call in Mexico

The long distance code in Mexico is 01. If calling the United States, first dial 001. To make other international calls, dial 00, and then the country and state and / or city (area) codes.
You can buy phone cards good for making calls in Mexico for 30, 50 and 100 pesos (about $3-5-10 USD).

Emergency Mexico phone numbers

• Police - 060
• Fire department and ambulance - 080
• Highway emergencies - 078
• Tourist security - (55) 5250-0123 (it's meant to be used)

Call (55) 5658-1111 in Mexico for Mexico information (like 411). Use country code 52 if calling Mexico from another country.

Women's Bathroom Tips in Mexico

• Don't flush tampons; put them in the same wastebasket used for toilet paper.
• Don't count on finding machines dispensing tampons or pads in public bathrooms, including those in hotels or restaurants.