Mexico City mayor approves law making it mandatory to provide purified water in schools, restaurants; law guarantees sufficient annual funds for installation of water purifiers in schools, obliges restaurants to set up water purification systems

Nevin Barich

April 16, 2014 (BNamericas) – The Mexico City mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera approved a law making it mandatory to provide purified water in schools and restaurants.

The new law guarantees the allocation of sufficient annual budget for the installation of water purifiers in public schools and obliges restaurants,​ hotels and private clubs to set up water purification systems.

The government plans to extend the law to apply to all public buildings, said the mayor.

Mexico City is the "first state in the country to take this type of measure in its fight against obesity," according to the release from the local government.

Mexico is the world's largest per capita consumer of bottled water, with the consequent economic and environmental costs that "make it imperative for establishments to offer water for free," said Jorge Gaviño, the new law's proponent, during discussion of the bill in the lower house.

The Mexico City legislative assembly approved the law forcing restaurants to provide free drinking water to customers in December last year.

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