Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras with nearly one million inhabitants has been experiencing severe water shortage for the past decades resulting in intermittent water supply, ranging in some cases from 18 to 24 hours per week, and limited access to piped water in the topographically higher regions of the city. For the past 50 years the responsibility over Tegucigalpa's water supply lay with the National Autonomous Aqueduct and Drainage Service (SANAA). Through interviews with persons from various organizations active in Tegucigalpa's water sector, problems that contributed to the ongoing water shortage were analyzed. The results suggest that the performance of SANAA has largely been compromised through the interference with and dependence on other central governmental agencies and local authorities. Municipalisation is advocated as a new opportunity for the water supply of Tegucigalpa, if the Municipality, as the new agent, is able to provide an institutional environment for planning execution, project continuity, and qualification-based recruitment.
The capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, has suffered a shortage of piped water, since the 1980s. The national utility company in charge of supply, SANAA, opted to supply water intermittently, which poses a problem for the population who cannot afford water storage facilities. Interviews were conducted with the various authorities involved in the water sector to reveal why SANAA has not been able to incorporate new sources of water and therefore satisfy the needs of the growing population. The research revealed that SANAA's operations have been hindered by the fast and unorganized growth of the city, the failure of other governmental agencies to comply with their mission effi ciently, and also by the intervention of the Central Government in its operations. Stability of SANAA's management and coordination between governmental agencies are essential for the effi cient operation and long-term planning of and investment in the water sector.
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