Water supply and sanitation in El Salvador
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Access to drinking water and sanitation in El Salvador has been increased significantly. A 2015 conducted study by the University of North Carolina called El Salvador the country that has achieved the greatest progress in the world in terms of increased access to water supply and sanitation and the reduction of inequity in access between urban and rural areas.[2] However, water resources are heavily polluted and the great majority of wastewater is discharged without any treatment into the environment. Institutionally a single public institution is both de facto in charge of setting sector policy and of being the main service provider. Attempts at reforming and modernizing the sector through new laws have not borne fruit over the past 20 years.
El Salvador: Water and Sanitation | ||
---|---|---|
Data | ||
Water coverage ('At least basic' definition) | 93% (2015) [1] | |
Sanitation coverage ('at least basic' definition) | 91% (2015) [1] | |
Continuity of supply (%) | Low | |
Average urban water use (liter/capita/day) | 118 | |
Average urban water and sewer bill for 20m3 | US$6/month | |
Share of household metering | 64% | |
Share of collected wastewater treated | 2% | |
Annual investment in WSS | US$2/capita (2003–2004) | |
Share of self-financing by utilities | 21% (1990–2002), almost zero in 2005 | |
Share of tax-financing | 16% (1990–2002) | |
Share of external financing | 63% (1990–2002) | |
Institutions | ||
Decentralization to municipalities | Limited | |
National water and sanitation company | Yes | |
Water and sanitation regulator | No | |
Responsibility for policy setting | Presidency of the Republic | |
Sector law | No | |
Number of urban service providers | 97 | |
Number of rural service providers | 800 | |