Lima district's water use doubles WHO recommendation, raising concerns

San Isidro, a district in Lima, Peru, stands out for its exceptionally high daily water consumption, with residents using an average of 227 liters per person. This figure significantly exceeds the 100 liters per day recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations as optimal for basic needs like hydration, hygiene, and food preparation.

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Although the average daily water consumption in the capital reaches 134 liters per inhabitant, a figure that exceeds the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), there is a Lima district that, despite having a smaller population than San Juan de Lurigancho and Carabayllo, more than doubles the use of said water resource.

The report, "Living in the desert: how much water we consume and what quality of service we have in Lima Metropolitan and Callao," by the National Superintendency of Sanitation Services (Sunass) and the Network for Development Studies (REDES), highlights that San Isidro's consumption is more than double the recommended amount. This is particularly notable as the district has a smaller population compared to areas like San Juan de Lurigancho and Carabayllo.

Experts express concern that this excessive water usage could jeopardize the vital resource's availability for Lima and Callao in the future. While basic needs consumption is relatively uniform, significant differences emerge when households have sufficient water for additional activities, such as maintaining green spaces or using washing machines. Conversely, areas with intermittent water supply tend to have lower consumption, limited to essential uses.

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San Isidro is the district with the highest drinking water consumption per inhabitant in Lima Metropolitan and Callao. On average, each resident uses around 227 liters per day, a figure that exceeds by 127% the 100 liters per day recommended by the WHO and the United Nations (UN) to cover basic needs such as hydration, hygiene, and food.

In stark contrast to San Isidro's high usage, districts like Mi Perú and Puente Piedra report the lowest per capita consumption, averaging 102 and 103 liters daily, respectively. These figures are considerably lower than those in San Isidro, underscoring the wide disparities in water use across the capital.

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while consumption for basic needs tends to be similar, variations arise when families have enough water for additional activities, such as using a washing machine or watering green areas.