The Azuero Region of Panama Remains in a Water Crisis after More than a Year
On May 27, 2025, the four water treatment plants were shut down due to contamination of the La Villa and Estivaná rivers. Today, Azuero still lacks potable water and relies on water trucks and wells.
In Azuero, turning on the tap to get water stopped being an everyday act a year ago. What was once an automatic routine—filling a glass, cooking, or bathing—has transformed into a dynamic marked by uncertainty, buying water, and waiting for tanker trucks.
Twelve months later, more than 100,000 people continue to rely on temporary solutions, such as cisterns, emergency wells, and makeshift storage systems. In rural communities, many families travel long distances to collect water, ration it severely, or depend on rainfall to meet basic needs.
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