VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTG #1249/01 3372314
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 032314Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1247
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR JTF-BRAVO  PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHTG/USDAO TEGUCIGALPA HO PRIORITY
RUEHTG/USMILGP TEGUCIGALPA HO PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001249 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON SENV PGOV PREL HO
SUBJECT: TFHO1: WATER RATIONING IN TEGUCIGALPA 
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 1052 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary: Local water authorities in Tegucigalpa 
predict shortages during the dry season of this drought year, 
and have begun rationing city water services.  The manager of 
the water company hopes that the combination of rationing and 
drilling new wells will enable the city to continue providing 
water until the next rainy season.  While exacerbated by the 
drought, a shortage of water is a perennial problem for 
Tegucigalpa.  Long-term solutions are still on the drawing 
board.  International organizations that had pledged funds 
for water system development or repair withheld funding as a 
result of the June 28 coup.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) A shortage of water is a perennial problem in 
Tegucigalpa.  Every year as the dry season approaches, the 
municipality places restrictions on water use, with fines for 
infractions such as using a hose to wash cars and sidewalks 
or overwatering gardens to the point of runoff.  Drought 
conditions (reftel) have made this year's situation more 
severe than normal, and the water service, the National 
Independent Aqueducts and Sewers Service (SANAA), not only 
plans to fine water wasters, but is now rationing water also. 
 
¶3.  (U) As reported in reftel, the departments surrounding 
the capital have had less than normal rainfall because of El 
Nino.  Since mid-October, rainfall has remained below the 
normal level in these areas, but sufficient to prevent 
widespread crop failures and food shortages.  As we enter the 
dry season, which usually means five or six months of almost 
no rain, reservoirs which supply water to the capital are at 
about 65 percent capacity.  As reported in local newspapers, 
SANAA predicts that, without any rain or conservation 
measures, reservoirs will run dry by April.  Jack Arevalo, 
manager of SANAA, told reporters that the water service has 
begun rationing, with the hope of making water supplies last 
until the next raining season, which starts in June. 
 
¶4.  (U) Many houses have cisterns or water tanks that receive 
water on a periodic basis through city pipes.  Other families 
use community faucets that also supply running water on a 
rotating schedule.  Under the system of rationing, residents 
will receive water half as often.  That is, if they have been 
receiving water every day, they will get it every other day; 
if once a week, then once every two weeks.  If they receive 
water only monthly, as is the case for up to 30 percent of 
the central district's population that lives in 
underdeveloped neighborhoods, then they may be left without 
running water and would need to depend on water delivery by 
truck.  Hospitals and hotels are exempted from the rationing 
rules. 
 
¶5.  (U) Plans for a new dam that would supply additional 
water during dry season have been on the table for twelve 
years.  But as projected costs increase each year, the 
projects seem even more unattainable.  Arevalo and other 
local authorities have expressed to the media the hope that 
the newly elected mayor and president will tackle the issue 
once and for all.  In the meantime, SANAA plans to drill ten 
wells in and around Tegucigalpa, at a cost of about $200,000 
each, to help close the water gap. 
 
¶6.  (U) Another problem impacting the water supply is leaking 
pipes.  Almost every municipal water system around the world 
experiences some loss through leaks in the piping systems. 
In the United States, losses average 10%, although leakage is 
closer to 25% in problematic systems of older cities such as 
Detroit and Pittsburgh.  The International Water Association 
cites statistics that large cities of developing countries 
lose around 40%.  SANAA estimates that losses in Tegucigalpa 
are greater than 50%, but funds for the repair of broken 
pipes are not available. 
 
¶7.  (U) After the June 28 coup, Spain suspended funding of 
$23 million intended for water system repairs.  Other aid, 
such as $5 million from the World Bank for water and 
sanitation sector modernization, was also frozen because of 
the political crisis.  Without this aid, Arevalo reported 
that SANAA will be unable to complete all its projects, and 
will finish the year with a $10 million deficit. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment:  As the newly elected president and other 
government leaders look forward to inauguration in January, 
stressed water resources will be among the many pressing 
challenges they will need to tackle.  Drought conditions and 
lack of financial resources have ratcheted up the urgency. 
As in other areas, the situation could turn from a problem to 
a crisis if a political solution that would allow donor 
reengagement is not reached.  End comment. 
LLORENS