The document summarizes health conditions along the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo border from the late 1970s to 1980s. It shows deteriorating environments in both border cities due to the end of an environmental health program, the peso devaluation in the early 1980s, and large population increases. Approximately 40,000 people lived in "Cardboard Town" where homes were built from found materials and water was limited to a single faucet per block. Most colonia homes were not connected to sewers, resulting in sewage flowing freely in streets toward rivers.

1. Health Problems along the Laredo Border These slides show conditions along the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo border area from the late 1970s to the late 1980s. They were used in presentations by Victor Oliveros, Laredo Health Department, during that time period.

2. Nuevo Laredo colonias The demise of an active binational environmental health program, the devaluation of the peso in the early 1980s , and a large increase in population on both sides of the border led to deteriorating environment in both border cities.

3. Cardboard Home Squatters or “paracaidistas” build homes from whatever they are able to find.

4. Colonia Volutad y Trabajo – public water faucet It is estimated that approximately 40,000 people live in “Cardboard Town.” The water supply is very limited, perhaps with only a single faucet in the middle of each block.

5. Sewage in the streets of Rio Bravo, TX Most colonia homes are not hooked up to sewer lines and sewage flows freely in the streets toward the river.