Water, OneDrop.org

Water: Cenotes to Tinacos
Did you have the opportunity to watch the webcast, Poetic Social Mission, Moving Stars and Earth for Water, a global even on water related issues in October? One Drop Foundation’s founder is Guy Laliberte, also founder of Cirque Du Soleil. The non-profit organization helps fight poverty worldwide by ensuring that everyone has access to water now and in the future. The one night webcast featured people performing, from around the world, to help heighten global awareness of our water crisis. U2, Shakira, Jose Stone, Salma Hayek and Cirque du Soleil preformed as well as many others from around the global. Each presented preformed in their own country. You can still watch the night at http://www.onedrop.org/en/default.aspx

My palapa photo in this post features the entrance to the most beautiful cenote I have ever been to in my 6 years in Mexico. It is a recently found (3 months ago) cenote near Coba. It has been named Mutal Piramide Ha Agua (underwater pyramid). Cenotes are natural, clear, freshwater underground ‘pools’, which can be found in the Yucatan and along the Riviera Maya. They are great places to swim, snorkel or scuba dive. They were formed millions of years ago. Cenotes are part of a cave ceiling, which collapsed leaving natural entrances to the underground river system. In this area, there are only a few above ground lakes and rivers. All the cenotes are connected by underground rivers, explored by scuba divers. Swimming in an underground cenote is a most mystical, magical experience. It is most refreshing.


A tinaco is a plastic water storage tank located on the roof tops of many houses and buildings in Mexico. In this photo, taken from the apartment balcony, you can see four tinacos. The tinaco is connected to the plumbing system of the house. Most are lines with an anti-fungal material. These would be electrical (as is the one on the apartment) and have a sensor attached. When the water level is low, the tinaco has water pumped into it. The water is pumped up to the tinaco from your cistern or city water supply. A standard tinaco holds 1120 litres of water. I hope you will do a search on cenotes and tinacos!