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Unrolling the Issue: The TP Talk You Never Knew You Needed in Mexico
So here I am, sitting in the restroom I know, TMI when I reached for the toilet paper and began the ritual.
The only difference being, after I was done, the paper went into the trash can next to me! Gasp!
This is super common, in a lot of the world but in Mexico?
Yep, so that got me wondering Where in Mexico can you flush toilet paper? Well resorts or high-end hotels that are gear to a more western culture, Bigger cities (tourist cities), or places with septic tanks made to handle it. You can cheat but we will go into that later.
Well, the short answer to the question can you flush toilet paper in Mexico? Is No, or you shouldn’t, lets dive further. Mexico has an older sewage/water infrastructures in the majority of the country. This isn’t always the case anymore.
Want to hear something crazy? Even the US, at a point in time, had to do something else with their bog roll toilet paper, than flush it. So, let’s dive on into the stinky topic.
I’ll give you all the facts that I know and have been able to find through research or personal experience. Plus some sneaky tips, so like always, let’s journey together!
A Brief Dip in History: How Mexico and TP Swirled into Controversy
The history of Mexico and toilet paper.
Mexico and toilet paper goes back as far as anywhere. But where did it start? Well, even after an extensive search I was unable to find an exact date for when toilet paper became available in Mexico, But there are some clues if we do some digging.
The 1st use of paper for hygiene that has been recorded, was in China, around the 6th century AD.
It wasn’t until the 14th century, toilet paper was manufactured in any meaningful.
In the western world, toilet paper wasn’t commercially viable until the 19th century (1800s).
So with this information it wouldn’t be out of this world to assume Mexico as part of global trade, we can assume that Mexico received TP around the same time as the western nations. Possibly in the late 19th century (1800s) to the early 20th century (1900s).
The history of Mexico and why toilet paper wasn’t adopted earlier.
Now, just because people were possibly able to purchase toilet paper in Mexico doesn’t mean that it was widely adopted at the time due to several possible factors including.
- Cultural differences and norms
- Economic conditions (people didn’t have the money to spare)
- Development of infrastructure (little or inadequate sewers systems)
What did Mexicans use before toilet paper?
Before people were asking where in Mexico can you flush toilet paper, They were asking what in Mexico can I wipe with?
Just like anywhere in the world before toilet paper, people would use what they had at hand for hygiene in the bathroom. This would include, but wasn’t limited to.
- Water
- Leaves
- Grass
- Fruit skins or pits
- Corn cobs (popular in early USA)
- Seashells
- Small stones
- Sticks or wood
- Even pieces of pottery
The History Of Mexico And Its Sewage Systems
So, let us talk about Mexico’s poop shoots! The history of Mexico’s Sewage systems goes as far back as the ancient times. With civilizations including the Aztecs and Mayas.
These cultures were very much like the Rome’s of the Americas, and instead of asking where in Mexico can you flush toilet paper. They were asking where in Tenochtitlan can I go to the bathroom.
They were responsible for building their own canals, ditches and even lakes for the sole reason of waste disposal and water transportation.
One of the most popular examples of this was in the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, which you may know better as modern day Mexico City.
Spanish Conquistadors And Sewage
Once the Spaniards moved into the country and took over the land, most if not all the sewage systems that the Aztecs had put in place were destroyed or left to ruin.
This left a gap in proper waste management in Mexico’s colonial period and lasted for years after Mexico’s independence in 1821.
As you can imagine, this led to many health concerns that were left unaddressed due to the challenges Mexico was facing in its development.
This is not to say that they didn’t have an infrastructure to deal with excrement, just that in many cases it was crewed or left up to the individual to figure out their own solution.
These would have come in the form of crude inefficient sewage systems, outhouses, and septic tanks.
Knee High In Modern Times
It would have been until the 20th century that Mexico would begin to make a push for a more modern sewage and water infrastructure. These efforts were spared on by the success of the United States and European’s developments,
Mexico City was the first city in the country to begin the process of building a major sewer system. At this time, they also installed water treatment plants and networks for clean drinking water (with lead pipes). We will go more into Mexico’s water system in the future, I will link it here.
Since the majority of Mexico’s efforts were going into their major city, this left many parts of the country, especially rural parts, using old systems or lacking systems entirely.
Pipe Sizing in Mexico’s Sewer System
In Mexico City, a lot of these “modern sewer systems” used 4-6″ pipes. Which is far from the more modern standard size for main sewer lines of 8-10″ depending on the distance and volume of the pipes. But for their time period it was revolutionary.
Now how does this tie into the main question of “Where in Mexico Can You Flush Toilet Paper?” hang on hang on, I’m getting there.
In recent years, there has been a major effort to make their sewage and water systems up to modern western standards. The government has launched several incentive programs for development of modern systems.
New York went through the same process, but they just never stopped the upgrading process. This lead to a system called a combined sewer system.
The process is slow-going in Mexico, because of the economic constrains and vastness of the areas needing improvement. I mean, there are over 8 million inhabitants, Mexico’s capital (Ciudad de México, or CDMX). This doesn’t include other large cities in Mexico.
So, how does this tie into: Where in Mexico Can You Flush Toilet Paper?
Now, for the big question: How does this all tie into where in Mexico can you flush toilet paper? With the newer, more modern system it is safe to flush, but in the more antiquated systems the pipes can be too small to pass wades of TP.
This is not even taking into consideration the sanitation stations… which are not all equipped to remove TP or other foreign objects.
This problem is improving almost daily a crossed Mexico, but the practice of throwing away your toilet paper in Mexico will probably always continue since it has been done for so long. The case still stands, That most of the sewer systems in Mexico just are not equipped to handle it.
This is the case with some areas where the drinking water has been deemed safe to drink, but still people continue to purchase bottled drinking water.
Research further: An Article With More CDMX History
I could go all day into the history or the sanitation systems of Mexico. This was a brief overview based on my research to give you some ideas of the limitations and a little more just for fun!
Don’t trust everything you read on the Wiki, but I found that they have a great article on Mexico cities infrastructure here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_management_in_Greater_Mexico_City
Flush or not to flush: WHERE IN MEXICO CAN YOU FLUSH TOILET PAPER?
So I know I just finished saying that you can’t flush your toilet paper in Mexico, but that’s not the whole story. There are some places that you can flush your TP in Mexico. If you remember that, the country has been putting a lot of resources towards improving the sewer system.
If you ever find yourself like I did asking, where in Mexico can you flush toilet paper. Then just a disclaimer, this more from my personal experience and isn’t a hard and fast rule. Your results may vary.
My Experiences With Bathroom Time In Mexico
Me personally, I have always flushed my toilet paper in Mexico, I just don’t do it the same as I would in America. Meaning, I will flush more frequent if I’m unsure of the area in which I’m doing my business. I also use smaller quantities of toilet paper per “clean”.
Now, there are some places that I will follow the rule of not flushing my toilet paper in Mexico. Such as public bathrooms or places where I may not have a plunger handy.
Now talking about places where you should be able to flush like normal. Would be in resorts or high-end hotels that are gear to a more western culture, Bigger cities (tourist cities), or places with septic tanks made to handle it.
These places generally use their own septic systems that is built to handle your cleaning “needs”. If you’re unsure you can always ask the front counter of the place you are staying at, though you may feel silly, I doubt that it will the first time someone has asked them.
What Could Happen If You Do Flush That TP In Mexico
You can roll the dice and see what happens. With three outcomes, you don’t have much to lose, maybe.
The first outcome nothing happens, this is the best outcome you can hope for! You can go about your business like nothing happened. Now you can take steps to insure this is the case. Use less toilet paper at a time and flushing more frequently or being in an area where you can flush normally.
The Second outcome. You end up having to use the plunger or, worse, even a plumber. This is never fun but can happen with the plumbing under older homes having smaller pipes than the more modern build places. If your unsure just toss it in the can.
The third outcome you clog up the whole sewer system and flood your neighbors. Now this is the more unlikely sicario on here, but depending on where you are staying could happen.
Where my wife is from in Mexico is a town that installed all of there own sewer systems and is kept up by the locals (its pretty impressive) But that being said its not the most robust system with lower water pressure.
Making me second guess flushing my toilet paper. So when I’m visiting family I stick to the old adage, When in Rome, Do as the romans do.
You know what, maybe it’s just best that you make sure that you can flush your toilet paper first. Even though I’ve never had issues myself, there is always a first…
Toilet Tourism: How the TP Situation Shapes Your Mexican Adventure
So some weird outcomes of this custom is that in public bathrooms in Mexico, You will not find rolls of toilet paper in the stales with you, generally it is kept at the front by the entrance.
I’m not sure how this came about exactly. Possible to limit theft or over use?
There have been multiple times that I didn’t grab enough or forgot to grab some toilet paper and started my business only to realize that I have to do the walk of shame to grab some TP.
Having To Pay For Toilet Paper
This only gets worse when you go to some clubs, bars, and some transportation bathrooms, and they charge for the use of toilet paper, crazy right! It’s never much, but it makes that fore mentioned walk even worse.
How it changed my style of traveling in the beginning (until I became used to it). I’d plan my trips to the bathroom while I was at home or in my hotel. If nature called while I was out, possibly because of Montezuma’s revenge, I always make sure to grab my toilet paper first. Plus some secrets that I keep on my person, which we will go into next!
Survival Kit: Your Cheat Sheet for Navigating the Mexican TP Terrain
So you have decided to embrace that culture, and you’re going to rough it like the locals! Awesome, as you should, after all it’s not that weird to throw your toilet paper in the trash.
A lot of the world still does things this way! Greece, Egypt, Bulgaria, Morocco, and China being among them, I’m sure there are more.
My Recommended Toilet EDC
So if you ever find yourself in a place where this is a common practice, these are normally the things I always carry on me or in my backpack when out and about! I will provide links to these items if you’re interested in seeing them; most can be picked up at your local store.
- I try to use camping toilet paper which looks like this: Camping Toilet Paper You can also use normal Toilet Paper rolls, they’re just bigger.
- Wet wipes are amazing and definitely not just for babies, they make it, so you have to wipe less.
- For a more compact version you can use a travel pack of tissues, these are nice because they fit in your pocket.
- In a pinch, hand sanitizer and tissues can be a wet wipe.
- Francia and I are a huge fan of Poo-Pourri though not a necessity from our times living in an RV it was a lifesaver. Or at least kept us from feeling too embarrassed smells travel in small places…
These things are by no means necessary. But I almost always carry one of them in some form. This gives me peace of mind and I generally have a backpack on, so It’s easy to throw a roll in my bag, and I’m good to go!
In Home Solution For TP
If you are going to live full time and have your own house in Mexico, you could look into something called a macerater. This is on the extreme end in my book, but hey to each their own. Here is a link to a site that sells them, I don’t get anything from this, I just wanted to show you. https://www.saniflo.com/us/installing-an-additional-bathroom/73-saniplus.html
If you have any other ideas, drop me a comment down below!
Turning the Tide: Mexico’s Push Towards Poo-lution-Free Sanitation
Mexico has been making many strides to upgrading the infrastructure, not because they want to make people’s potty time nicer, which it does. But to improve their efficiency of recycling waste.
With an ever-growing population, limited water supply, and being home to the world’s largest city, Mexico has a lot of poo-lution and is finding new ways to handle it. While reducing the risk of spill that could contaminate the environment.
The ways include recycling wastewater for agriculture and community gardens and parks.
Mexico Asking For Help To Improve Their Efficiency Of Recycling Waste
Mexico has also been actively participation in international sustainability initiatives, as well as seeking funding from companies on a global level to help organize projects to improve water sanitation/management and conservation.
Even America is getting in on the action and invested 300million dollars to stop the flow of sewage from a crossed the boarder of the USA and Tijuana. As the Tijuana river flows to San Diego and is bringing contaminated water to them from Mexico. This was covered in 60 minutes.
Final Flush: Parting Thoughts on where in Mexico can you flush toilet paper
Key Take Aways If You Can Flush Toilet Paper
So, I feel like I was able to answer my question of; Where in Mexico can you flush toilet paper. It turns out there is very little real information on this topic online. I know that I’m not the only one to wonder it.
We’ve briefly covered the history, finding out that sewage has been an ongoing issue for Mexico since before it was a country. The older infrastructure is the reason that it’s not a great idea to flush your toilet paper.
We also talked about how there are more countries than just Mexico that have to do the same thing.
You know, have a shopping list of things that are useful to carry while in Mexico.
There are places in Mexico that it’s okay to flush toilet paper. We also covered how Mexico and the world is trying to deal with issues steaming from the sewage problem in Mexico.
Your Ultimate Guide For Where In Mexico Can You Flush Toilet Paper?
With everything said, a little inconvenience is definitely not a dealbreaker for me: Mexico is full of beautiful places, people, culture albeit strange at times.
So let this be your ultimate guide to everything sticky in Mexico, and last but not least, where in Mexico can you flush toilet paper? Anywhere given, we have done our research on how to check and or cheat. Should you, probably not, but that’s up to you!
If you need a way to get to the bathroom and enjoyed this article, you should check out my other one on ride-sharing in Mexico: https://juntosjourneys.com/lyft-uber-and-taxis-in-mexico-a-comprehensive/
