Water Supply Administration in Peru

Abstract

This article begins by discussing how major water supplies or systems in Peru have been financed and built in the past by direct grants from the national government. However, national financial support of this nature is not able to keep up with rapid growth in demand, and few water systems in Peru are self‐supporting in operating costs alone. The author describes his experience where, during the summer of 1960, he spent 5 weeks in Peru as a short‐term consultant to the International Cooperation Administration (ICA), activities of which are known as the Point Four program. The consultation was a part of the Community Water Supply Development Program of ICA. Under this program, and in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, ICA is assisting cooperating countries to develop or strengthen business‐type, self‐sustaining national institutions that will plan and aid financing, construction, and management of water supply systems at the community level.