Peru Ministry of Housing to propose 15 laws to address water crisis

Peru's Ministry of Housing, Construction, and Sanitation (MVCS) will present 15 legislative projects to Congress aimed at unblocking water, sanitation, and housing projects nationwide. Minister Mauricio Arnillas announced the move following the Parliament's decision to approve only four of the eleven legislative powers requested by the Executive.

Arnillas declared an emergency for water and sanitation services, noting that approximately 15 million Peruvians lack sewage access and 9 million lack domestic water. The minister reported that of 252 stalled water and sanitation works identified at the start of his term, 62 have been unblocked.

In the Puno region, the National Superintendency of Sanitation Services (Sunass) has authorized water service providers (EPS) to exceptionally use investment and reserve funds to combat water deficits. These funds may be used for urgent measures such as water distribution via tanker trucks, installing storage tanks, and improving pumping and treatment systems to mitigate the effects of water scarcity and El Niño.