More than 700,000 Peruvians lack access to drinking water and, as a result, face a cost six times higher for this service. A study by the National Superintendency of Sanitation Services (Sunass) indicates that households in Lima and Callao without a connection to the public network pay an average of S/141.20 per month, compared to the S/24 spent by families with access. According to the report, the price of water for households without a connection is S/22.11 per cubic meter, while connected users pay only S/3.20.
Additionally, these households consume less than half of the necessary water, averaging 6.4 m³ per month, which is below the subsistence threshold. The economic burden is significant, as spending on water represents nearly 9% of the monthly income in these households. In many cases, families resort to water trucks, which increases costs and health risks.
The president of Sunass, Mauro Gutiérrez, referred to this situation as a “penalty of poverty,” where the most vulnerable end up paying more for a lower quality service. To address this issue, it is estimated that an investment of over S/64 billion would be needed just to extend the water network in Lima and Callao.
