Castillo: Panama loses up to 50% of water due to distribution leaks

Panama is working to incorporate watershed basins into its national territorial planning system in order to protect them, ensure sustainable management, and raise public awareness about the loss of environmental sustainability over recent decades, Jaime Jované Castillo, Minister of Housing and Territorial Planning of Panama, said during WUF 13 in Baku.

Report quotes the minister as saying that though Panama's economy relies heavily on water resources, the country still struggles to provide safe drinking water to its population.

According to him, water supplied to communities undergoes industrial treatment and depends directly on the quantity and quality of the original source.

He emphasized that ignoring the condition of aquifers and watersheds that supply water for consumption and food security could jeopardize the future of agriculture and national food systems.

The minister added that a significant part of the problem is linked to insufficient attention to the preservation of watershed basins. Water losses in the country reach up to 50% due to leaks in distribution networks and insufficient responsibility among end users.

"This forces us to take an honest look at the situation again. Territorial planning must create a sense of ownership and an understanding of the value of basic public services provided by the state," he said.

He noted that despite being one of the rainiest countries in the world, Panama faces a paradox where a large portion of rainfall is lost due to insufficient infrastructure for storage and regulation under climate and seasonal variability.

"Everything starts with us - with an honest assessment of the situation and by taking into account the experience of other countries," he added, noting that even the Panama Canal depends directly on water availability.