Water supply and sanitation in El Salvador

El Salvador: Water and Sanitation
Data
Water coverage ('At least basic' definition)	93% (2015) [1]
Sanitation coverage ('at least basic' definition)	91% (2015) [1]
Continuity of supply (%)	Low
Average urban water use (liter/capita/day)	118
Average urban water and sewer bill for 20m3	US$6/month
Share of household metering	64%
Share of collected wastewater treated	2%
Annual investment in WSS	US$2/capita (2003–2004)
Share of self-financing by utilities	21% (1990–2002), almost zero in 2005
Share of tax-financing	16% (1990–2002)
Share of external financing	63% (1990–2002)
Institutions
Decentralization to municipalities	Limited
National water and sanitation company	Yes
Water and sanitation regulator	No
Responsibility for policy setting	Presidency of the Republic
Sector law	No
Number of urban service providers	97
Number of rural service providers	800

Access to drinking water and sanitation in El Salvador has been increased significantly. A 2015 conducted study by the University of North Carolina called El Salvador the country that has achieved the greatest progress in the world in terms of increased access to water supply and sanitation and the reduction of inequity in access between urban and rural areas.^[2] However, water resources are heavily polluted and the great majority of wastewater is discharged without any treatment into the environment. Institutionally a single public institution is both de facto in charge of setting sector policy and of being the main service provider. Attempts at reforming and modernizing the sector through new laws have not borne fruit over the past 20 years.