Across Ecuador, there is 65.8% coverage, which includes homes that have a flush toilet, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).

The canton with the fewest sewers is Isidro Ayora, in the province of Guayas, with a coverage of 0.7%; while the one with the highest coverage is Rumiñahui, in the province of Pichincha, with 95.9%. Meanwhile, the two most populated cities in the country have different percentages: Guayaquil (83.5%, in 10th place), Quito (95%, in second place). There are dozens of municipalities below these latest numbers, there are even more than 20 cantons with 15% or less sewerage coverage.

There are cities that do not even have 5% of sewage in Ecuador: what are the percentages in Guayaquil and Quito?

This reality is the result of several factors, among which stand out the lack of planning, disorderly growth, lack of access to financing, misuse of economic resources, as well as the consequences of corruption.

Consulted experts commented that strategic planning is essential to avoid these deficiencies, not only in sewage, but also in the public water network (at the national level there is a coverage of 84.2%) and other services, such as garbage collection (reaches 88% in Ecuador). . Three related services that enable the prevention of diseases and other problems such as environmental pollution.

It is the task of the authorities, many of whom have just taken office this year in the sectional and national governments, to plan properly in view of this need for debt. Appropriate opportunities (collaboration between institutions, academia, private companies, international organizations) must be sought to improve these numbers and expand services to their populations. A goal that is not easy, especially if you take into account the economic situation in the country (departmental governments continue to demand the payment of salaries to the central state, which is facing economic difficulties), but which is necessary for the development of society. (OR)