 | This article needs to be updated. (May 2018) |
| Uruguay: Water and Sanitation | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Data | ||
| Water coverage (broad definition) | 100% | |
| Sanitation coverage (broad definition) | 100% | |
| Continuity of supply (%) | 100% | |
| Average urban water use (liter/capita/day) | 183 | |
| Average urban water and sewer bill | US$ 22/month (2007) | |
| Share of household metering | 93% | |
| Share of collected wastewater treated | n/a | |
| Annual investment in water supply and sanitation | n/a | |
| Share of self-financing by utilities | nil | |
| Share of tax-financing | n/a | |
| Share of external financing | n/a | |
| Institutions | ||
| Decentralization to municipalities | No | |
| National water and sanitation company | Yes | |
| Water and sanitation regulator | Yes, multi-sector | |
| Responsibility for policy setting | Ministry of Housing, Land Management and Environment | |
| Sector law | No | |
| Number of urban service providers | 1 | |
| Number of rural service providers | n/a | |
Uruguay is the only country in Latin America that has achieved quasi-universal coverage of access to safe drinking water supply[1] and adequate sanitation.[2] Water service quality is considered good, with practically all localities in Uruguay receiving disinfected water on a continuous basis. 70% of wastewater collected by the national utility was treated. Given these achievements, the government's priority is to improve the efficiency of services and to expand access to sewerage, where appropriate, in areas where on-site sanitation is used.
The stability of the water supply in Uruguay was severely challenged by a three year drought culminating in a water crises in 2022-2023.[3] The La Niña driven cycle of drought, amplified by increased heatwaves caused by climate change meant that overuse of water by consumers stressed capacity of the system, leading to use of saltwater in drinking water.[3][4]
- ^ Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) Uruguay Water Supply
- ^ Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) Uruguay Sanitation)
- ^ a b Simon, Maite Fernández (2023-05-30). "Uruguay, hot and dry, adds salt water to public drinking supply". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ Atalayar (2023-02-23). "Climate change is not responsible for drought in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, but it does exacerbate water scarcity". Atalayar. Retrieved 2023-06-05.