Average urban water and sanitation tariff (US$/m3)
0.26 (Panama City in 2012)
Share of household metering
51% (2006)
Annual investment in WSS
High
Financing
mostly through government subsidies
Institutions
Decentralization to municipalities
Very limited (one municipality)
National water and sanitation company
Yes: IDAAN
Water and sanitation regulator
Yes: ANSP (multi-sectoral)
Responsibility for policy setting
Ministry of Health
Sector law
Yes (1997)
No. of urban service providers
2: IDAAN and Boquete
No. of rural service providers
3,300
Water supply and sanitation in Panama is characterized by relatively high levels of access compared to other Latin American countries. However, challenges remain, especially in rural areas. Panama has a tropical climate and receives abundant rainfall (up to 3000mm per year), yet the country still suffers from limited water access and pollution.[1] Intense El Niño periods, periodic droughts,[2] reduce water availability. Multiple factors like urbanization, impacts of climate change, and economic development have decreased water resources. The high frequency of floods in recent years and the lack of corresponding measures resulted in tension among the local population.[3] Rapid population growth in recent decades led to an unprecedented increase in freshwater demand. Regional inequality exists in water resources and water governance.[2] An estimated 7.5-31% of Panama's population lives in isolated rural areas with minimal access to potable water and few sewage treatment facilities.[1]
Given the large quantities of rainfall, rainwater harvesting has been implemented as a solution to increase water access. Still, the rainwater is subject to pick up any substances on the rooftops that it runs over before entering a collection tank. Water quality tests revealed that the collected water often contains coliforms or fecal coliforms, likely from running through animal droppings on roofs.[4]
The Bocas del Toro province gets its water from a body of water named Big Creek.[4] Although the water goes through a purification process, the treatment infrastructure was built to accommodate a much lower water demand than what is currently expected of it.[4] Waterborne diseases are still a prominent problem for Bocas del Toro, with diarrhea, intestinal problems, and parasitosis being the leading causes for infant mortality in the province.[4]
^ abAhuja, Satinder (2019). Advances in water purification techniques : Meeting the needs of developed and developing countries. Amsterdam: Elsevier. pp. 41–66.
^ abLarsen, M.C. (2019-01-01). "Water Supply and Water Quality Challenges in Panama". Advances in Water Purification Techniques: 41–66. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-814790-0.00003-X. ISBN 9780128147900. S2CID 134595071.
^"Water Section in Panama: Challenges and opportunities" (PDF).
^ abcdWaite, Marilyn (2013). Sustainable Water Resources in the Built Environment. IWA Publishing. pp. 44–75.
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