USD 12.5 billion annually for universal access to water and sanitation

(La Paz, November 04, 2013). So that the whole urban population of Latin America may have potable water and sewage services, sustained investments of an average of at least USD 12.5 billion annually are required until 2030, representing approximately 0.3 percent of the region's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as revealed in the book   Equidad e Inclusión Social de América Latina: acceso universal al agua y al saneamiento (Equity and Social Inclusion in Latin America: Universal Access to Water and Sanitation), presented in La Paz in past days by CAF, Development Bank of Latin America. 

The document describes how this investment will close the water infrastructure gap in the cities in a time period of 20 years, starting in 2010, and achieve the goals of 99 percent coverage in potable water, 94.4 percent in sanitary sewage, and 80 percent of the urban area covered by rain drainage networks. 

The document also states that currently, 25 percent of the urban population of Latin America lacks or receives precarious potable water services, and an even larger percentage does not receive adequate sanitation services; the book also highlights the efforts made by governments to improve these indices. 

In this context, the publication states that the 0.3 percent of the regional GDP annually, to solve the problem, is perfectly manageable in the region and would bring large benefits to the health of the people and productivity of the countries. Governments, the private sector, and the civil society must participate in these efforts. 

This text was the starting point for dialogue regarding equity and social inclusion policies in the urban sphere of the potable water and basic sanitation sector, and was presented by CAF's Vice-President for Social Development, Jose Carrera. 

The digital version of this book may be found in:  publicaciones.caf.com