Mexico
Mexico's water and sanitation crisis
Out of its population of 127 million people, 72 million people (57% of the population) lack access to safe water and 47 million people (37%) lack access to a safe toilet. Water supply and sanitation in Mexico has experienced both great achievements and continued challenges. Over the last two decades, Mexico saw a significant nationwide increase in access to piped water supply and improved sanitation in both urban and rural areas, however a lack of ongoing investment has slowed progress in getting access to safe water to low-income communities.
The challenges include water scarcity and droughts in major parts of the country, inadequate drinking water quality and wastewater treatment, and inefficient utilities. More than half of Mexican households with access to piped water receive services on an intermittent basis, and Mexico currently has the highest per capita consumption of bottled water worldwide. Now more than ever, lasting access to safe water at home is critical to families in Mexico.
Our impact in Mexico
Water.org completed a market assessment in Mexico in 2017. We found opportunities in the central and southern parts of the country where there are pockets of communities without access to networked water and sanitation systems and a robust microfinance market served by a variety of types of institutions.
We are working with associations of microfinance institutions and credit cooperative institutions. Through this approach, we aim to empower financial institutions by equipping them with the technical skills and training they need to launch their own financial products for water and sanitation solutions like WaterCredit. Our first partners disbursed their first loans for water and sanitation in early 2020, and we are currently working with financial institutions, cooperative federations, a water non-profit, and private water solutions providers to scale our impact in Mexico.
A vision for the future in Mexico
Water.org sees great potential in Mexico and is in the process of expanding our work with financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, local governments, and infrastructure partners like water utility companies. We continue to refine our strategy in the country and explore ways to accelerate impact through new partnerships at the local and regional level.
Mexico impact statistics
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