Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a report highlighting the dire water crisis in Guatemala, where government inaction has exacerbated the situation, leaving millions without access to clean, reliable water. The report, entitled “Without Water, We Are Nothing: The Urgent Need for a Water Law in Guatemala,” outlines the urgent need for legislative reforms to address the crisis, which disproportionately affects Indigenous communities and women.
Despite Guatemala’s status as an upper-middle-income country with abundant freshwater resources, nearly half of its population lacks sufficient access to potable water. This shortage stems from decades of governmental neglect and insufficient infrastructure, compounded by the absence of a legal framework regulating water rights. In July 2023, a UN report noted that over 2 billion people globally lack access to safely managed drinking water, highlighting the need for a significant acceleration in progress.
According to the HRW report, deep disparities exist in access to water and sanitation services in Guatemala. For example, half of the Indigenous population lacks indoor running water, compared to a third of non-Indigenous citizens. Furthermore, inadequate sanitation poses a significant public health risk, with figures indicating that only 42 percent of homes have sewage-connected toilets. Approximately 30 percent of municipalities were found to have no operational wastewater treatment infrastructure as of 2021.
The water crisis is occurring alongside a broader institutional crisis. The United Nations has warned Guatemala is experiencing significant challenges to the rule of law, including efforts to undermine judicial independence and criminalize anti-corruption activities.
The report urges the government, led by President Bernardo Arévalo, to enact a comprehensive national water law which would formalize water rights, create a financing and regulatory framework, and impose environmental protections. Importantly, it calls for Indigenous communities to be involved in water management and governance, a step aimed at acknowledging and integrating traditional water management practices into national policy.
The full report is a stark reminder of the intertwined challenges of governance, infrastructure, and environmental conservation that remain crucial for ensuring fundamental rights. Both local and international observers will be watching closely as calls for legislative reform grow louder.