Water Crisis in Lima: A Struggle for Basic Access in Impoverished Areas
Thousands in Lima’s impoverished neighborhoods lack running water, relying on infrequent tanker truck deliveries. Over 635,000 residents live without access to basic services, leading to severe health concerns and significant inequity compared to wealthier areas. The water crisis is compounded by poor urban planning and climate challenges, creating a stark divide in water access and living conditions among city residents.
In Lima, Peru, thousands of residents in impoverished areas dream of having running water, relying instead on water delivered by tanker trucks. The city, home to over 10 million people and the world’s second-largest desert city after Cairo, has limited rainfall despite being surrounded by rivers and the Pacific Ocean. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Computer Science, more than 635,000 people in Lima live without access to running water, mostly in informal settlements situated at elevations not serviced by existing water and sewer lines.
Water is provided for free by blue tanker trucks to areas like San Juan de Miraflores, although deliveries are sporadic and leave water in large, unsanitary drums along dusty streets. Catalina Naupa, a 59-year-old local, expressed concerns about health issues, stating, “We get stomach cramps and migraines. There are worms in the bottom of the tank.” During the winter, truck access becomes difficult due to muddy roads, leading to significant delays in water provision.
Each family receives around a cubic meter (260 gallons) of water per week, equating to approximately 30 liters per person daily, a figure significantly below the United Nations’ recommended minimum of 50-100 liters. Concerns over potential water rationing arise as reservoirs remain low, as noted by Jeremy Robert from the Institute for Development Research in France.
Antonio Ioris, a geography professor, highlighted the impact of climate change on water levels but emphasized that inadequate access for the poor is often a low priority for policymakers. The lack of urban planning, compounded by rural migration, contributes to the crisis.
Access routes in some areas of San Juan de Miraflores are challenging, with water trucks unable to reach certain households. Consequently, residents pay six times more for water than those connected to municipal services. A stark visual divide exists, symbolized by a long concrete barrier dubbed the “wall of shame,” which separates poorer neighborhoods from wealthier areas where residents consume approximately 200 liters of water daily. Cristel Mejia, who manages a soup kitchen, remarked on the disparity, affirming that “Surco seems like another world.”
The lack of running water in Lima’s impoverished areas poses serious challenges for residents, who depend on tanker deliveries that are infrequent and often unhygienic. Despite the surrounding natural resources, inadequate urban planning and climate change exacerbate water shortages. There exists a glaring divide between affluent neighborhoods and those struggling to access basic water services, highlighting broader issues of inequality and the need for urgent policy reform to address these disparities.
Original Source: www.france24.com
