Choluteca river basin

The Choluteca river basin lies on the hot and dry southern Pacific coast of Honduras, and is bordered by Nicaragua to the east. The name Choluteca, thought to mean ‘broad valley,’ originates from the indigenous Chorotega tribe who inhabited the region prior to Spanish conquest.[1] The Choluteca river and its tributaries together form the Cabeceras catchment located in southern Honduras where it stretches over four administrative departments (Francisco Morazán, Choluteca, El Paraíso and Comayagua) covering 7,848 km2 and drains into the Pacific Ocean. The Choluteca river basin provides water to the capital city of Tegucigalpa with population around 1 million inhabitants.[2]

Climatically the region is characterized by having only two seasons during the year: a rainy season lasting from May to October and a dry season from November to April with a shorter dry season lasting 2 weeks near the end of July. Efforts at improving water storage during the rainy season aim to address inadequate supplies and meet water demands during the dry season.[2] Water shortages are one of the main challenges facing Tegucigalpa and the areas making up the Choluteca river basin. Other significant challenges include poor water quality from untreated industrial effluents and sewage discharging into the river network, and severe risk of flooding from tropical storms and hurricanes.[3] Non-structural efforts to increase water availability include the recent (Aug. 2009) approval of a new General Water Law which, among other achievements, created a National Water Authority to oversee decentralized institutions. Following on, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank projects are financing efficiency improvements. The development banks are also fostering the strengthening of institutions and sectors.[4]

  1. ^ Blackie, Shiona (2009). "Choluteca boasts agriculture, beaches and history". Honduras This Week. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2009-08-06. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Coello was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Faculty of Science and technology-Uppsala University (2008). "Sustainable Water Resources". Uppsala University. Archived from the original on 2007-06-10. Retrieved 2009-08-06. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ The World Bank (2007). "Honduras Water and Sanitation Sector Modernization Project". The World Bank: 5. Retrieved 2009-08-25. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)