A video has gone viral on social media showing a vendor boiling corn with irrigation water provided by gardeners in the Alameda Central of Mexico City. In the images, it can be seen how the water is obtained from a source meant for irrigation, without any purification process for human consumption.
This incident has raised concerns among users, as irrigation water is not suitable for cooking or drinking since it is untreated and can pose a public health risk when used in food. Boiling the water is not enough, as it may contain metals and chemicals that are not removed by this process.
In the videos circulated on social media, the vendor is seen filling her pots with water directly taken from an irrigation source in the park to then use it in cooking the corn she sells. The presence of possible contaminants such as heavy metals or pesticides in the irrigation water poses health risks, especially for vulnerable groups.
The World Health Organization warns that contaminated water and poor sanitation contribute to the spread of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and poliomyelitis. The lack of adequate water and sanitation services exposes the population to health risks that affect both public spaces and medical environments.
The vendor was caught using irrigation water to boil corn, supplied by the park gardeners, generating controversy over the use of a resource unsuitable for human consumption. The lack of treatment in irrigation water poses health risks, as possible chemical contaminants present in the liquid used in food preparation are not eliminated.
