Download Socioeconomic variables

MBRS Watershed Project
Socioeconomic Assessment
Purpose:
To develop a basic socioeconomic
understanding within the nine target
MBRS watersheds.
Study Sites:
Four to nine selected communities within each
watershed.
Data Collection
Methods:
 Secondary data: existing information sources
 Primary data: key informant interviews
Socioeconomic variables:
 Demographics
 Economic welfare
 Material style of life
 Health and water safety
 Community perceptions
Data Analysis & Communication
Provide an overview of the watershed based on
data from the selected communities, as well as
regional and national level data.
Collected:



Descriptive statistics on the 33 variables
Secondary Data sources
Interviews with 3-4 community members in each of 3-9
communities on each watershed.
Interviewed: doctors, agriculturalists, alcaldes,
environmental government officials
Motagua Study Area
Watershed Presentation Today
Socioeconomic variables of focus in each
watershed:
- Population & population density
- Incomes and sources of employment
- Sanitation, Access to Water, Health
- Community Perceptions
Findings: Motagua - Demographics
National
Watershed*
Trends
Population
G: 11,166,000
H: 6,424,000
Total: 5,177,018
G: 4,113,897
H: 1,063,121
Largest
population of
watersheds
studied
Population
density
G: 134 p/km2
H: 62 p/km2
Total: 184 p/km2
Highest
density of
watersheds
surveyed
H: 172.1
G: 196.0
Population Density
Population Density
(population/area km2)
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Ulua
Chemelecon
Motagua
Yucatan
Rio Hondo
Population Density
Findings: Motagua - Economic
Welfare
National
Poverty
G: 56.7% live in
poverty
H: 66.5% live in
poverty
Source of
employment
G: 41.2%
Agriculture
H: 60%
Agriculture
Watershed*
G: 30% live in
poverty;
H: 59.9% live in
poverty
Trends
less poverty
in watershed
than national
averages
75% employed in Agriculture is
agriculture
largest source
of
employment
Agriculture land cover
Water, Sanitation & Health
Effects of Inadequate Water and Sanitation





Water and sanitation-related disease (malaria,
dengue, diarrhea, parasites, river blindness)
Malnutrition and poor health
Reduced labor availability and productivity
Reduced school attendance
Pollution of watersheds
dengue
malaria
parasitos
Motagua – Sanitation Coverage
Motagua Urban Sanitation Coverage
6%
Motagua Rural Sanitation Coverage
13%
94%
With sanitation
Without sanitation
87%
With sanitation
Without sanitation
Coverage is average, however treatment is limited
Motagua – Drinking Water Access
Motagua Urban
Drinking Water Coverage
5%
95%
With drinking water
Without drinking
water
Motagua Rural
Drinking Water Coverage
9%
91%
With drinking water
Without drinking
water
Coverage is average, however consistent treatment is lacking
Treatment Facilities - Motagua
NOMBRE
PLANTAS DE
TRATAMIENT
DE AGUA
POTABLE
PLANTAS DE
TRATAMIENTO
DE AGUAS
RESIDUALES
Chichicastenango
1
0
Morazán
0
0
El Rancho
0
0
Gualán
2
0
Morales
2
0
Puerto Barrios
0
1
Findings: Motagua - Health & Sanitation
National
Waterborne
diseases
Diarrhea is the 2nd
and 3rd leading
cause of death in
infants in
Guatemala and
Honduras.
Watershed*
Diarrhea is a
leading cause
of morbidity in
the watershed
Trends
Incidence
and
frequency of
waterborne
disease
Over half of those surveyed said,
wastewater pollution affects the safety of drinking
water in the Motagua
Community Perceptions in the Motagua
Watershed
Environmental threats
Deforestation, soil erosion, river pollution, lack of
garbage collection
Intervention Suggestions Education, public campaigns, proper wastewater
treatment and garbage disposal
Motagua – Environmental Threats
River contamination
lack of garbage collection
lack of wastewater treatment
Deforestation/soil erosion
Disease (dengue)
drinking water contamination
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Community Perceptions of
Environmental Threats in Motagua






Deforestation from outside lumber companies -Chichcastenango
Water Contamination from wastewater – San Augustin
Acasaguastrian (accent on last a)
Deforestation close to the rivers –Morales
Garbage deposit in the center of town – Entre Rios
The wastewater system, pipes are old and obsolete and the
oxidation/treatment plant (lakes for oxidation) are full and the
waste runs into the river - Copan
Rivers are drying up! "We used to be able to swim in the river,
from the source to the mouth, but now there is not enough
water in the river to swim or to get from the beginning of the
river to the ocean.- Omoa

Lack of sanitation connections to wastewater treatment. –
Puerto Barrios
Recommendations/ Suggestions
Wastewater treatment
Laws and Waters
Reforestation
Education
Municipal garbage disposal
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Findings: Motogua - Summary
 Highest
population and greatest density
in the region - over 5 million inhabitants.
 Agricultural industry employs 75% of the
watershed’s workforce.
 Deforestation and river contamination is
a major environmental concern in the
watershed.
Chamelecon Study Area
Findings: Chamelecon Demographics
National
Watershed*
Trends
Population
6.1 Million
<1.2 Million
Large pop.
Population
density
54 people/km2
121 people/km2
Higher than
national
Population
growth
2.4% in 2001
3.7% in San Pedro
Sula
Higher than
national
Population Density
Findings: Chamelecon - Economic
Welfare
National
Watershed
Trends
Income
17,172
lempiras/yr
San Pedro Sula: 29,544
lempiras/yr
Rural: 9,612 lempiras/yr
Higher incomes in
urban areas
Source of
employment
Services
Services
Key manufacturing
area
Findings: Chamelecon - Health &
Sanitation
National
Watershed
Trends
Sewage disposal
28.2% to
treatment
60.4% to treatment
Pollution from
leakage, overflow
Access to drinking
water
73.5% access
Poor in rural areas
Fix
Waterborne
diseases
Diarrhea is the
3rd leading
cause of death
in infants in
Honduras
Morbidity from
diarrhea is
common
Common
Chamelecon - Community Perceptions
Watershed
Environmental
threats
Lack of enforcement or
laws/regulations, water
contamination, soil erosion.
Recommendations
to improve
environmental
situation
Application and enforcement of
laws, education, wastewater
treatment, location of appropriate
garbage disposal sites.
Perceptions of Community
members in Chamelecon



A solution to garbage disposal would be to invest in
appropriate trash sites and have better defined
municipal services to collect trash. –San Pedro Sula
A solution to water contamination by wastewater is
construction of more latrines and more households
need to be connected to the municipality wastewater
treatment system. –La Entrada
A management plan for the watershed and public
participation in the management of the microwatersheds needs to be developed. -Quimistan
Summary of Findings
 Watershed
population is concentrated in
San Pedro Sula, an area with high
population density
 San Pedro Sula is an
industrial/manufacturing center; key for
Honduran economy
 Poverty is common throughout the
country, incomes higher in San Pedro Sula
 Sewage treatment is lacking
 Deforestation/ soil erosion are concerns
Ulua Study Area
Findings: Ulua - Demographics
National
Watershed*
Trends
Population
6.1 Million
~3 million
Large pop.
Population
density
54 people/km2
141 people/km2
Dense
Population
growth
2.4% in 2001
7.1% in selected
communities
High growth
Population Density
Findings: Ulua - Economic Welfare
National
Watershed
Trends
Income
66.5% in poverty
63.6% in poverty
Average
Source of
employment
Services
Agriculture & livestock
Large
agricultural
industry
Findings: Ulua - Health & Sanitation
National
Watershed
Trends
Sewage disposal
28.2% to
treatment
35.8% HH without
sanitation
little treatment
Access to drinking
water
73.5% access
80.2% access
quality
Waterborne
diseases
Diarrhea is the
3rd leading
cause of death
in infants in
Honduras
Widespread
cause of
morbidity
common
Findings: Ulua - Community Perceptions
Watershed
Environmental
threats
Deforestation & soil erosion, lack
of wastewater treatment,
pesticide overuse, slash & burn
agriculture
Recommendations Greater wastewater treatment,
to improve
improved garbage disposal,
environmental
reduce deforestation through
situation
laws and enforcement.
Perceptions of Community
members in Ulua





Deforestation causes soil erosion and fills the tributaries, reduces
the flow of water in the Main River, the Ulua and the microcuencas
debido a incendios. – Villanueva
There is a decreasing availability of water. The water table is
lowering and the "tala” (slash and burn) is contaminating the water
table. The people who are cutting down trees are not the poorest
people. In fact, they are usually land owners who have connections.
– Santa Barbara
We need clearly defined environmental management policies need
to be created with local participation and input, not handed down
from above without consultation. – Santa Barbara
We need the community recognition of community problems and
subsequent community organization around the main problems
identified. – Santa Cruz de Yojoa
Wastewater treatment is needed. – El Progresso
Findings: Ulua - Summary
 Highly
populated watershed:
approximately 3 million people
 Large-scale agriculture and livestock
processing industries
 High nitrogen and BOD pollution levels
 35.8% of households without adequate
sanitation
 19.7% of households without piped
drinking water source
Thank you