Regional elections in Peru focus on water and environmental management

In the upcoming regional runoff elections in Peru, candidates in Piura and Moquegua face intense scrutiny regarding their proposals for water management and environmental protection.

In Piura, candidates Reynaldo Hilbck of Alianza Para el Progreso and Guillermo La Torre of Podemos Perú are heading to a second round. The region faces a severe water crisis, with one in five residents lacking access to public drinking water and 84.3% of households receiving service for only 12 hours a day on average. Key issues include the overcapacity of the Curumuy water treatment plant and the loss of over 60% of the Poechos reservoir's storage capacity due to siltation.

In Moquegua, candidates Juan Luis Herrera Chejo of Somos Perú and Abraham Cárdenas Romero of Acción Popular are competing in a runoff. Agricultural representatives have criticized the candidates for lacking realistic plans, specifically questioning how proposed dams would be supplied with water. Concerns have also been raised regarding heavy metal contamination, including lead and arsenic, in areas such as Pachas, Yacango, Tumilaca, and Torata, alongside the potential depletion of the Pasto Grande water supply.