Water, water

Here is a sign that is on the road very near my house.

Translation? "Drop by drop, the water drips."

The sign is on the road that goes to San Agustin Etla, which is just up the road from me.  San Agustin is always green.  Hey, a poem.  It is green because it has lots of water.  In fact, San Agustin supplies about 20 percent of the the water for the city of Oaxaca, which is 15 k. to the south.  They have been installing a huge long underground pipeline along the main road to the city for the last few months.  It is getting closer and it appears like certain folks are not happy about it.  Every now and then San Agustin gets upset about something and shuts off the flow.  In fact, there was a shootout the last time it happened and folks were killed. 

Obviously, water is a very important issue and always has been.  It is only going to get worse as the needs of the city increase.  The old line has lots of leaks and, at the same time, lots of people tapping into it and selling the water in the huge pipas, the water tanker trucks, which are everywhere.  There is not enough water in the system for the city, so one calls a pipa to supply the household/business needs for a week or so.  It's a good racket.  Maybe the new line will solve the problems, but getting there is going to be mighty interesting.  If they continue up the main drag with the new line, I figure it will have to go in somewhere very near me, but that will be months down the road.  As far as where I live, it is pretty green as well.  It is mighty good to live just down the hill from such an important and vital water supply. 

Update:  A better and more accurate translation is "Drop by drop, the water is running or giving out."  (h/t to anon and H.W.)