Although Panama has the highest water consumption per capita in Latin America, 16 percent of the population has no access to it.

 Panama’s ombudsman, Ricardo Vargas, said that only 84 percent of the 3.5 million Panamanians have access to water, of which only 61 percent have potable water
The news came on World Water Day (Monday March 22).

Luis Alberto Chamorro, National Authority of Public Services (ASEP) said that according to a regional study in consumption Panamanians use 106 gallons of water a day , while for Latin Americ the average consumption is only 48 gallons.
The study was prepared by the Association of Regulatory Body Water and Sanitation of the Americas (ADERASA) at 40 water distribution companies in Panama, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Ecuador and Uruguay.

Among the countries with the lowest consumption is Colombia, whose record is between 46 to 49 gallons per person daily.
. The sewerage system in Panama reaches 62 percent in urban areas, compared with 9percent of the rural sector, Vargas said in a statement.

Vargas said that national authorities and governments and international agencies should seek global solutions to water resources, so that water does not become a source of global conflict.

"Access to safe water is a prime human right and an essential element of national sovereignty, and as such should be recognized and guaranteed by the state."