Ministry launches pilot potable water plan in Apurímac - Peru

Peru's housing, construction and sanitation minister Francis Allison has announced a pilot potable water project in Apurímac region as part of a plan to provide services in areas of conflict, official gazette El Peruano reported.

The project seeks to relocate small communities and create new city models.

"Geography and distance work against state investments in water and sewerage, especially in communities of only 40 families that are located in mountainous or jungle areas," Allison said.

Allison said there is no magic formula but that the ministry must have realistic initiatives that require permanent coordination with regional and local governments.

One of the minister's approaches is to create strategic alliances with private companies that have corporate social responsibility programs. An agreement was already signed with Swiss-based mining group Xstrata to finance the water and sewerage works in Apurímac.

Under another agreement, Canadian miner Barrick Gold will develop rural housing.

OBSTACLES

Disorganization at all levels of the government is hindering access to potable water and sewerage services, and is impeding the creation of good pre-investment projects, according to NGO Agua Limpia's director Mercedes Castro.

Personnel must be trained and the management capacity of local operators must be improved, Castro said, adding that the local population must also be made aware of good water use.

The population must coordinate with authorities to guarantee the design and implementation of an adequate water supply system, according to Castro.

Under the national Agua para Todos (water for everyone) program, the state has invested 2.29bn soles (US$753mn) in 1,911 projects throughout the country from August 2006 to date.

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