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Water Purification - Mexico 2010

The road to the town of Estanque De Leon in North Central Mexico was long, rough and very dusty. A few hours drive from the small city of Saltillo, they are completely cut off from electricity and running water.
We didn't quite make it to the town on Christmas Eve 2010 so we decided to sleep under the stars. When the glaring sun of the day went down, the temperature dropped to right around freezing. The desert is not a constant and uneventful place like one might imagine. It goes without warning from burning sun to freezing temperatures, from erie silence to sand pelting wind storms, from dust as light as air to flash floods; it is a place of extremes.
The town of Estanque De Leon is populated by about 300 people. They survive by searching the desert for a Canelia plant that after a process involving fire and acid, sheds a wax material. This wax is sold by liter to a company that comes from the city. Some of its uses are as a protective coating for fruits and vegetables and as one of the ingredients in chewing gum.
The town has three reservoirs for water. It collects naturally in the rainy season as the water runs down the hills, through the valleys and into the lowest point where it sits for the rest of the year. Free roaming animals use the same water as the people. This water is used for everything from cooking and cleaning to drinking.
Jeremy Bell and Jamie Choe, of Globalize-This.org, work on testing the water before and after filtration.
Stephanie Peterson explains the importance of clean water, how to use and assemble the filters, and cleaning instructions to some of the women of the town.
With enough filters for every family, we hope for the best; that everyone adapts to the idea and that these people lead healthier lives free of waterborne illnesses.
Stephanie Peterson tests more water. This was an ongoing task throughout out time there. Spare time? Pick up a test strip and a syringe!
The children seemed to follow us everywhere. They took us hiking in the mountains that surround the town. They navigated the terrain with grace and agility while we seemed to get stuck with every thorn we passed.
Some of the children returning home with a bucket and filter. The blue building in the background is their church.
Anything can be a toy if you're creative enough!
This little boy, Enrique, helped us a lot. He walked us around the town door to door calling people out of their houses to talk and test the filters.

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