Sanima's insights

We were invited to participate as panelists in the launch of the National Multisectoral Policy for Water and Sanitation 2050, the main instrument that will guide the Peruvian State’s strategy in the sector over the next 25 years. In this context, Arturo Llaxacondor participated in a panel focused on the equity pillar of service access, sharing operational evidence on the implementation of sanitation solutions in off-grid urban contexts.

Sanitation is a human right and an essential public service for the health and well-being of people (Framework Law on the Management and Provision of Sanitation Services). Therefore, it is logical that this service be fully or partially subsidized to make it accessible to the entire population.

However, in Peru, a large part of the population does not have the privilege of this service or receive such a subsidy, nor are they offered any public alternative to guarantee their right to sanitation:

• 7.6 million people do not have sanitation.
• 3.4 million people do not have water.

• In Peru, 25% of the population, or 1 in 4 people, do not have access to a safe bathroom (INEI). In Lima Metropolitan Area alone, this affects over 128,000 households.
• Without any other alternative, most people resort to using pit latrines or latrines, negatively impacting their health and well-being, as well as increasing environmental pollution levels.
• 50% of anemia cases are associated with lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (United Nations).
• Families without access to the public water and sewerage network spend, on average, S/790 more per year on water than those with direct access (SUNASS, 2023).

Nearly 15 years ago, Container-Based Sanitation (CBS) emerged in various parts of the world as an innovative solution to address the urgent crisis experienced by approximately 3.5 billion people globally, who still lack access to safe sanitation services, resulting in serious consequences for their health, well-being, and the environment. In Peru, this reality affects 1 in 4 people, and in Lima Metropolitan Area alone, it impacts over 128,000 households.

CBS is an effective off-grid sanitation alternative, particularly relevant for peri-urban areas with complex geography, scarce water resources, prone to natural disasters, and high population density.

In 2018, it was recognized by WHO and UNICEF as safe sanitation, and since then, several cities around the world have adopted it to reduce sanitation gaps.

The CBS service is safe and sustainable. It involves providing independent toilets and operates with a waste management system that includes collection, treatment, and reuse or final disposal. Being a solution of rapid installation and operation, it provides immediate well-being to people.