Water shortages in the outskirts of the town of Xela. Eenvironmental destruction implicit in open pit mining continues to damage the ecosystems in Guatemala. Forests water sources flora and fauna are all heavily effected. Cyanide and heavy metal contamination of several water sources in the area has been confirmed. There are communities that have drunk water with high concentrations of arsenic mercury and lead for years while other communities must travel to another municipality in order to obtain enough clean water for domestic use. Efforts are slowly being made to transport usable water to the regions most effected but as always the deliveries are erratic and unreliable. These local indigenous kids have waited for hours for a delivery of drinkable water. The youngest one runs from her house across the dusty road with a large blue plastic bucket ready to be filled to the brim. Her older sister watches on in the background staying by the wooden gate of the house. The house it