Water supply and sanitation in Honduras

Water supply and sanitation in Honduras
Data
Access to an improved water source87% (2010)
Access to improved sanitation77% (2010)
Share of collected wastewater treatedVery low
Continuity of supply2%
Average urban water use (L/person/day)300-400
Average urban water and sanitation tariff (US$/m3)3 US$/month (2000 in Tegucigalpa)
Share of household meteringLow
Institutions
Decentralization to municipalitiesPartial, in the process of being completed
National water and sanitation companySANAA (in the process of being dismantled)
Water and sanitation regulatorERSAPS
Responsibility for policy settingCONASA, a Council under the Ministry of Health
Sector lawYes (2003)
No. of urban service providersAbout 20 (TBC)
No. of rural service providers5,000

Drinking water supply and sanitation coverage in Honduras has increased significantly in the last decades. However, the sector is still characterized by poor service quality and poor efficiency in many places. Coverage gaps still remain, particularly in rural areas.

In 2003, a new framework law for water supply and sanitation was passed. It includes service decentralization from the national utility, SANAA, to the municipalities. It also creates a policy council and a regulatory agency. Nevertheless, the new institutions remain weak and the process of decentralization has been slow. Furthermore, there is no policy of sector financing.