The Struggle for Water in Villanueva
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Villanueva is the largest very poor community in Tegucigalpa, the capital city. It is home to 75,000 people who suffer probably the worst shortage of water in the city. One journalist who works for the Association for a More Just Society (AJS)'s Honduran partner organization, ASJ, found that, on average, a home in Villanueva houses 7 people who receive less than one square meter of water a month (or water comes every 30-40 days, but not enough to fill even a small household tank).

With so little water coming through the city system, many families report spending about 450 lempiras ($26) a month to buy water from private companies. The water they buy, which is distributed from large tanks, is often not clean. It is important to note that the cost of having a connection to the water system is 25 lempiras ($1.50) a month. Residents of middle class and wealthy neighborhoods pay $1.50 a month and receive water nearly every day, all day. But the very poor of Villanueva must pay $26 a month for unclean water.

The basic problem in Villanueva is a bad network and the terrible state of distribution, though much more investigation will need to be done to clearly diagnose exactly why the system is functioning so poorly. The water system in Villanueva was installed and is managed by SANAA, the Honduran Water Authority. Unlike in many other communities, there is no local water board (it was disbanded some time ago due to serious issues of corruption). The local neighborhood council has responded very eagerly to ASJ involvement in the problem.

Residents in Villanueva must buy water from private companies at high prices . . .

. . . And then carry the water home

AJS Strategy

The Association for a More Just Society (AJS)'s Honduran partner organization, ASJ, is in the beginning stages of investigation in this case. ASJ's first steps will be to develop a clear understanding of the weaknesses in the water distribution system, both physical and administrative, and to develop a relationship with community leaders. Later ASJ will pursue the resources needed to improve the system, largely through pressuring SANAA to take responsibility for their own water system and clients in Villanueva.

Latest News: Water to Flow to 30 Families

After much effort by ASJ to organize cooperation between SANAA and the community, a commission was created of 6 community members and an engineer, social worker and community representative from the Water Authority. The commission has committed to making the visits and work plans necessary to bring more water to the families of Sector 7b, the area of Villanueva identified as suffering the worst water scarcities.

Their first success came when SANAA, the Honduran water authority, agreed to install water connections in 30 homes in Sector 7b. These 30 homes are part of an older section of the community and are covered by an existing water plan for the area. The other 120 household in 7b are newer and lie outside any SANAA plans. SANAA was clear that they are not making any commitments to these other families, but to these 30, who should soon be receiving water twice a month in their homes, this is a triumph. The next step is gathering the money needed for SANAA to start working. ASJ will be meeting with community members to come up with ideas on how they can best do this. Please pray that the financing and work will come together smoothly to bring water to these 30 homes.

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