Resumo

SANTOS GUZMAN, Jesús; GUERRERO MEDRANO, Laura; REYNA CAAMANO, Ruth  e  MEJIA VELASQUEZ, Gerardo. Legislative framework for the water supply in Mexico. Rev Panam Salud Publica [online]. 2009, vol.26, n.6, pp. 549-552. ISSN 1020-4989.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1020-49892009001200011.

In this study, water sanitation laws and methods (both Mexican and international) are compared, and the feasibility of incorporating recommendations issued by international organizations into Mexican legislation is assessed. When climate, demographic, or industry changes occur, there is an apparent need to broaden the range of substances and organisms being measured and regulated in the water. This comparative analysis identifies the following challenges: improving equipment sensitivity and specificity; removing contaminants that interfere with the process; increasing pathogen concentration of the sample; reducing manpower, equipment, and infrastructure requirements; identifying priority pathogens; adopting a flexible evaluation system; comparing and evaluating similar efforts carried out by other countries; and lastly, collating local regulations with international ones.

Palavras-chave : water supply; potable water; environmental pollutants; water pollutants; legislation, environmental; sanitation; Mexico.