Tinacos

This character is representative of the methods for storing drinking water. While some parts of Mexico City have easier access to clean water, many districts rely on the delivery of drinking water in large containers which can then be refilled by pipa water trucks. Many families choose to store water in tinacos, large roof-top containers that dot the skyline of residential areas of the city, in preparation for shortages. Because the tinacos are located on the roof, water pressure is improved due to gravity.

Water delivery can be difficult for some households to coordinate, especially for neighborhoods in which there is no formal system implemented. The burden to secure fresh water often falls upon women, who, because they are often required to wait for hours for a delivery, cannot maintain a steady means of income. This denial of a basic human right furthers entrenches disadvantaged communities in a cycle of violence.