Water supply and sanitation in El Salvador
| Data | |
|---|---|
| Access to an at least basic water source | 93% (2015) |
| Access to at least basic sanitation | 91% (2015) |
| Share of collected wastewater treated | 2% |
| Continuity of supply | Low |
| Average urban water use (L/person/day) | 118 |
| Average urban water and sanitation tariff (US$/m3) | $6/month |
| Share of household metering | 64% |
| Annual investment in WSS | $2/capita (2003–2004) |
| Share of self-financing by utilities | 21% (1990–2002), almost zero in 2005 |
| Share of tax-financing | 16% (1990–2002) |
| Share of external financing | 63% (1990–2002) |
| Institutions | |
| Decentralization to municipalities | Limited |
| National water and sanitation company | Yes |
| Water and sanitation regulator | None |
| Responsibility for policy setting | Presidency of the Republic |
| Sector law | None |
| No. of urban service providers | 97 |
| No. of rural service providers | 800 |
Access to drinking water and sanitation in El Salvador has been increased significantly. A 2015 conducted study by the University of North Carolina called El Salvador the country that has achieved the greatest progress in the world in terms of increased access to water supply and sanitation and the reduction of inequity in access between urban and rural areas. However, water resources are heavily polluted and the great majority of wastewater is discharged without any treatment into the environment. Institutionally a single public institution is both de facto in charge of setting sector policy and of being the main service provider. Attempts at reforming and modernizing the sector through new laws have not borne fruit over the past 20 years.