Economic crisis and drinking water

1989/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

Investments in drinking water supply and environmental improvement in South America and the Caribbean have declined considerably since 1981 due to the economic crisis.

The ten-year planning carried out by its people at the beginning of this decade had two main objectives: to supply 56% of the rural population and 91% of the urban population with drinking water, while providing 31% of the rural population and 69% of the urban population with sewage systems suitable for waste disposal.

The ECLAC (United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) recently announced that these objectives have been far away in most peoples as a result of the economic crisis. In addition, the poorest part of the population has suffered the most delay.

Among the solutions he proposes to address the problem is the use of a low-cost technology that reduces external dependence.