Millions of Peruvians still yearn for access to a basic need: drinking water

Lima, Peru – Peruvians in rural areas have been reporting their dissatisfaction at the fact that they cannot access drinking water.

The National Sanitation Plan 2022-2026, prepared by the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation, suggests that more than three
million people suffer from this humanitarian crisis.

It indicated that around half the those included in the study live in rural areas, forcing many to resort to conventional ways to secure water, not the
least of which are water springs and water tanks, constituting a financial challenge for families in rural areas.

Lima, the capital, is a live example of the deteriorating situation in the country; many neighborhoods would have never had drinking water for
years now, despite the fact they are adjacent to government buildings.

This issue coincides with a sewer service crisis, with more than 7.5 million Peruvians do not have access to these vital services, 63 percent of whom
live in rural areas, having to resort to digging holes for a cesspool.

Rocio del Pilar, a resident of Puente Piedra district, said that water is barely adequate for families of only five members.

“Sedapal charges you an average of 3.5 soles. They [people in human settlements] pay between 15 to 30 [4 to 8] soles per cubic meter. There
you see this big difference. These families have fewer resources but have to pay more for water,” said Josue Porras, a specialist in Water and Sanitation at the Action Against Hunger Foundation.