| The way the drinking water gig works in Mexico's | | | | freelancer. He comes with water bottles from |
| Heartland is, number one, never drink from the | | | | several of the water companies. He will take your |
| tap. Secondly, always buy bottled water for | | | | empties and replace them with freshly filled ones. |
| cooking and drinking. You can buy five-gallon | | | | If the company's water guys come, then you |
| bottles in stores. You pay an initial deposit and | | | | must give them the empty with their label on it. |
| then you must haul this backbreaking, | | | | Water company "X" will not take water company |
| spine-crushing bottle of water to wherever it is | | | | "Y's" empties. But, the freelancer will. |
| you live and hope you survive the experience. | | | | Problem: The necks of the all the various |
| That's one way you get your drinking water. | | | | companies' bottles do not work with the pumps |
| The other way is by listening for the water | | | | you can get to pump the water. Theses pumps |
| employees. These are strapping young men who | | | | seem to work with only two of the water |
| drive a mini-truck around the neighborhoods | | | | company's bottles. So, you have to make do or |
| where you live and let you know they are there | | | | you can chose from an assortment of dispensers. |
| by screaming "Agua" at ungodly hours of the day. | | | | We've been using a hand pump that tends to pop |
| Once you overcome the coma-inducing shock of | | | | off when you are using it on an inerrant bottle. |
| being awakened, you run to the window and | | | | But, there are these water bottle racks you can |
| scream back, "Agua." He follows the sound of | | | | buy into which you insert the bottles and the thing |
| your screeching until you make visual contact | | | | swivels to allow pouring. The clincher is you have |
| whereupon you agree to the number of bottles | | | | to lift the bottle into it and that will break your |
| you need. | | | | back or make you have a really bad day. |
| Currently, we are using this young man who is a | | | | |