Marisa (12 years old) lives in a peri-urban community in the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. In 2021, her water utility, the National Water Commission (NWC), was severely affected by a hurricane and it took over 3 months to resume service. During that time, this 12-year-old had to walk and wait for the water truck every day to get four gallons of water, barely enough for … [Read more...] about Resilient infrastructure in the Caribbean
Water resources
Investing in our water future to prevent scarcity in the land of plenty
*By Maria Perez Urdiales and Jesse Madden Libra. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the most water-rich region in the world with an astounding 21,672 m3 per capita in renewable freshwater resources. However, over 60% of its population lives in medium-high to extremely high-water risk areas. A recent study by the Inter-American Development Bank's Water … [Read more...] about Investing in our water future to prevent scarcity in the land of plenty
Groundwaters: the value of the invisible
Groundwater supplies up to 60% of the water in some Latin American and Caribbean countries. They are an invisible resource, but essential for the present and future of the region. By María Augusta Olmedo and Paulina González* When we think of natural water sources, we generally imagine a river, a stream, a lake, flows that we can see with the naked eye. However, … [Read more...] about Groundwaters: the value of the invisible
Resilient and efficient: a new normality for Latin America and the Caribbean
Our region must ensure water for the present and the future with actions to mitigate climate change, a bell that also favors economic and social welfare. This is the theme of the Focus in the Americas sessions during World Water Week. The consequences of climate change are irreversible as a result of decades of human action on the planet. This dire reality, highlighted in … [Read more...] about Resilient and efficient: a new normality for Latin America and the Caribbean
Our vital liquid, really?
This month we celebrate World Water Day and the United Nations has invited us to reflect on an increasingly meaningful question: What is water worth to you? Most, if not all, people would agree that water is invaluable. After all, there’s a reason it’s called the “vital fluid.” Sadly, we appear to be treating water as the exact opposite of that precept – and we’ve begun to … [Read more...] about Our vital liquid, really?