WASH News Latin America
News feed maintained by information specialists from IRC and partners.
Brazil: over US$ 6 billion/year needed for basic water and sanitation, survey claims
08 Apr 08
A new survey says Brazil needs to invest 11 billion reais (US$ 6.3 billion) in basic water and sanitation services every year for 20 years. Now, 53% of the population does not have access to these services. The survey was carried out by the Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) - at the request of the [...]
Peru: industrial water use rates to be revised
08 Apr 08
To comply with the free trade agreement with the USA, Peru needs to raise industrial water use rates. A study on water rate revision must be ready by the end of 2008. Industries will also have to accommodate environmental standards for wastewater treatment set by developed countries, otherwise they cannot export their products, said José [...]
Honduras: Canada grants US$4mn for potable water, sanitation programme
04 Apr 08
During her visit to Honduras, Beverley J. Oda, Canada’s Minister of International Cooperation, announced that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will contribute CA$ 4 million (US$ 3.92 million) to UNICEF in support of the maintenance of water and sanitation systems and the promotion of good hygiene practices both in Tegucigalpa and in rural communities [...]
Bolivia: Water resources only guaranteed for 50 years – water minister says
04 Apr 08
As a result of global warming, Bolivia’s [surface] water resources can only be guaranteed for the next 50 years, water minister Walter Valda said. Several of the country’s glacier will disappear between 2013 and 2045. However, Bolivia does have abundant groundwater resources, Valda he added. Read more: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 26 Mar 2008 [...]
El Salvador: Sanitation is a national priority in 2008
04 Apr 08
El Salvador’s government is making sanitation a national priority and increasing coverage throughout the country, national aqueduct and sewerage authority Anda sanitation department director Rubén Alemán told BNamericas. The country committed itself to improve sanitation when it signed the Cali declaration at the 2007 Latinosan conference.Anda is working to improve access to sanitation through:pilot programmes [...]
Peru: IDB to provide US$350mn for water projects
04 Apr 08
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will lend more than US$350mn to Peru over the next five years for the development of sanitation and water projects, benefiting over 100,000 families. The funding will cover investment, structural reforms and technical cooperation, assisting initiatives in the areas surrounding capital Lima and other cities.In 2007 the IDB launched the [...]
Colombia: Govt to invest US$ 599 million in 5 water plans, launches Agua Transparente programme
20 Mar 08
Colombia’s deputy water minister, Leyla Rojas, announced that the government will invest US$ 599 million in waterworks in five departments during 2008. With support from the Andean Development Corporation, the government expects all 32 departments to have master water plans, covering water for human consumption, irrigation and industrial activities as well as sewerage [...]
Brazil: Abcon, AquaFed discuss cooperation agreement
20 Mar 08
Brazil’s national water and sewerage concessionaires association Abcon and the international federation of private water operators AquaFed are discussing a cooperation agreement to improve basic sanitation in the country. The two organizations plan to exchange technical, social and financial information on private company participation in water and sanitation services, and also carry out studies and [...]
Nicaragua: Potable water to cost up to 40% more
20 Mar 08
Nicaraguan residents who consume more than 20 cubic metres of drinking water a months will have to pay 7-40% more, said the state-owned water and sewage utility Enacal. Those who use 21-30 cubic metres per month will pay 7% more, residents of the capital Managua’s will face rises of 25-42%. Industries will pay 30-44% more. [...]
Latin America: Govts sign multilateral water cooperation agreement
20 Mar 08
Government representatives from Chile, Spain, Peru and Uruguay signed an international technical cooperation agreement on water resources and the expansion of drinking water and sanitation services. The agreement was signed in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 29 February 2008. Other Latin American countries are expected to join the initiative in the near future. Planned activities for [...]
