Source - Latin America and the Caribbean



Cuba: INRH to repair water network over 10-15 years

05 Feb 10

Although more than 95% of Cubans have access to potable water, approximately 15,000l of water is lost each month due to leaks in the pipelines, Cuban daily Granma reported.

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Mexico, Mexico City: water authority head proposes new water tax

05 Feb 10

The director of Mexican national water authority Conagua, José Luis Luege Tamargo, has called for a new tax on water to cover the cost of wastewater treatment and reforestation, Conagua said in a release.

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Haiti: international aid efforts moving slowly but surely

05 Feb 10

Sanitation conditions in Haiti are gradually improving thanks to the efforts of aid workers following the earthquake that destroyed the capital Port-au-Prince on 12 January 2010.

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Chile: Lower house to discuss bill on concessions for rural water, sanitation services

26 Nov 09

Members of Chile’s lower chamber of congress are discussing a bill on granting concessions for rural potable water and sanitation services. The new law considers the creation of a national rural sanitation department that will operate within the waterworks division of the public works ministry (MOP).

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Latin America: water crises require bold investments and strategic alliances, IDB president says

25 Nov 09

“Latin America is facing multiple water crises with far-reaching consequences for health, food security, renewable energy sources and export competitiveness,” says Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

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Guatemala: US$ 100 million from Spain and the IDB to improve water and sanitation services

25 Nov 09

Thanks to US$ 50 million in grants from Spain and the same amount in loans from the Inter-American Development (IDB) Guatemala will expand safe water and sanitation services to approximately 600,000 people in 280 rural communities and 60 urban and periurban areas that today lack those services.

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Ecuador: one dead and dozens injured in water protests

28 Oct 09

One protester has been killed and many more are injured following clashes between indigenous tribal people and Ecuadorian police over proposed water and land rights laws.

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Bolivia, Haiti: IDB, Spain provide US$ 139 million for water and sanitation

28 Oct 09

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Spain will provide a total of US$ 139 million in grants and loans to Haiti and Bolivia.

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Bolivia: drop in diarrhoea thanks to swine flu handwashing campaign

28 Oct 09

Nayeli Quispe, a seven-year old from the impoverished hillsides of La Paz, Bolivia has been washing his hands a lot more than usual. His behaviour is inspired by a massive campaign by the country’s public-health officials to contain the spread of the new flu virus.

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Central America: water conservation alert

07 Oct 09

The non-governmental Latin American Water Tribunal issued a dramatic warning about future water shortages in the region. The amount of available water per capita in Central America has dropped by 60% since 1950 and is expected to be only 21% of the 1950 figure by 2050.

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