Although a country with diverse biodiversity and a rich supply of natural resources like copper, gold and lithium, water scarcity plagues Peru for many reasons, ranging from inadequate agricultural practices to climate change. With a humid and tropical climate, Peru has an increased risk of evaporation, meaning water and vegetation are more susceptible to drying out. However, there have been several domestic and international efforts to use nature-based solutions to tackle the problem of water scarcity. 

Problems of Water Scarcity 

From deforestation to political instability, Peru’s situation is dire. UNICEF found that 48% of Peru’s population (16 million) lacks access to reliable, safe water sources. Consequently, water scarcity restricts access to safe, drinkable water and the ability to practice basic hygiene. Moreover, this leads to further problems like sewage system failures, increasing the threat of contracting diseases like cholera. This increased threat takes a much more significant toll on women and children because they are responsible for collecting it. This issue raises further problems such as school attendance and lack of education. 

Innovative Nature-Based Solutions and Reforestation 

The Peruvian city of Moyobamba has tackled the problem of water scarcity in Peru through a tariff system in which locals are charged the equivalent of around $0.30 per month as part of their water bill. Moyobamba then uses the money to invest directly in watershed and rainforest conservation initiatives. As one of Peru’s first nature-based solutions (NbS) used for watershed maintenance, it has become the country’s model to copy. The project in Moyobamba has led the government to scale these NbS to a national level and, subsequently, a model for other Latin American countries with similar climates to imitate and use as inspiration to tackle water shortages. 

Other Humanitarian Efforts and Initiatives

Water.org has disbursed loans for indoor bathrooms, water and sewage connections and tanks for water collection and storage. Moreover, their future plans provide great hope for improving water scarcity in Peru. Expanding partnerships with local financial institutions will make water and sanitation systems more accessible to a broader population. UNICEF has also encouraged climate resilience through projects like the construction of flood-resilient ECOSAN latrines and the protection of freshwater sources in the Peruvian Amazon. 

Moreover, a community initiative to restore ancient water supplies in the Andes has successfully delivered increased water supplies from the tops of mountain slopes to increase water availability downslope during drier months.

This method of restoration of ancient canal systems, believed to predate the Inca empire, also known as mamanteos, has previously been used to combat water shortages in cities like Lima, the second-largest desert city in the world. 

Looking Ahead 

Although Peru is subject to an inherently humid, tropical climate, which subjects it to a higher chance of climate problems like drought and deforestation, nature-based projects like the one in Moyobamba open up many doors for other regions in Peru and countries across Latin America to look towards nature-based solutions as a way to combat water scarcity. 

More funding by international and domestic organizations for such innovative projects is crucial to fighting water shortages throughout Peru and Latin America. 

– Amber Hamed
Photo: Flickr