Assessment of the Impact of COVID on Water and Sanitation Utilities in Latin America and the Caribbean

Peer Reviewed icon Peer Reviewed
Author
Bulbena, Laura
Date issued
September 2021
Editor
Berto, Maria Eduarda Gouvea;
Sasaki, Keisuke;
Garcia Merino, Lucio Javier;
Aguilera, Julio Cesar
Subject
Water and Sanitation;
Coronavirus;
Public Utility;
Water Tariff;
Water Utilities
JEL code
L95 - Gas Utilities • Pipelines • Water Utilities;
Q25 - Water
Category
Technical Notes
Due to the current health crisis caused by COVID-19, the Water Utilities that provide Water and Sanitation services have seen their financial capacity affected to ensure the adequate provision of services, linked among other factors to reductions in their operating revenues and collections related to the temporary exemption from the payment of water and sanitation services for some users, deferral of bill payments, freezing of tariffs, reduction of the collection rate and prohibition of cutting services, among others. This document provides an assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on finances and operations of some Water Utilities in Latin American and the Caribbean.