"In the past four years, our wells have started drying up," says Juan Urbano, who just finished a three-year term this February as the president of the Communal Territory of San Felipe Ecatepec.
Where is all the water going?
In between San Felipe and San Cristobal lies a Coca-Cola bottling plant, operated by the Mexican company FEMSA.
Despite the government’s responsibility, most Mexicans do not have safe drinking water in their homes.
The company declined to specify how much it pays for the water extracted in San Cristobal.
Meanwhile, public health organizations, such as El Poder del Consumidor (Consumer Power), based in Mexico City, have argued that soda consumption was contributing to Mexico’s soaring diabetes and obesity rates.
Another study found that one in six diabetes cases could be directly linked to soda consumption.
"The long-term strategy is to increase access to safe drinking water and drinking fountains."
Coca-Cola previously had billboards in Indigenous communities around San Cristobal, such as San Juan Chamula, showing men and women in traditional dress with Coca-Cola bottles.
In San Felipe Ecatepec, Juan Urbano doubts the current Mexican government will help the community with its water problems.