Water in Herrera could be safe to drink from taps again in December after year-and-a-half crisis

Residents of several communities in Panama’s Herrera and Los Santos provinces may be able to drink water directly from their taps again in December, after nearly two years of restrictions linked to contaminated rivers.

Yauruslaydis Ibarra, the provincial director of Panama’s Institute of Aqueducts and Sewage Systems, or Idaan, said treatment-plant operations had produced positive results. The authority hopes to issue a favorable assessment in December, although the water must still undergo further checks.

Teams from the U.S. Embassy and specialists from Israel are expected to arrive in October to support Idaan’s evaluations and validate the results obtained so far. Until that process is complete, residents continue traveling to supply points to collect water for drinking.

One resident said she goes to collect water almost every day and uses it for drinking, following instructions from the authorities. The crisis has affected communities in Chitré, Los Santos, Guararé and Las Tablas, after contamination in rivers including La Villa and Estibaná.

Idaan has not ruled out sector-based water rationing during the first months of 2027 if weather conditions associated with El Niño place renewed pressure on supply sources. For now, residents and officials are looking toward December as a possible start to the return of potable water to household taps.

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We hope that in December we can already have much more positive information regarding this issue.