UC Davis

Water is an element that not only keeps humans alive but powers the world. Access, quality, and safety are all dimensions of power when it comes to water—where gender, class, income, geography, and race are often the determinants. Access to clean water and issues surrounding mining and hydroelectric projects, deforestation, and human rights violations are becoming an increasing threat many communities in the country of Honduras. Before and after the murder of Berta Caceres, environmentalists and community leaders have organized to prevent the privatization of water and lands, and bring awareness to the imminent threat that all of these extractive practices are posing on water and ecosystems, along with other environmental issues that are threatening communities in the Department of Atlántida and other areas across the country. Access to safe drinking water and rivers is essential for the survival of communities, particularly in regions where drought poses a significant and ongoing threat. This is especially true for many communities in Honduras, especially those located in the mountainous western highlands. These highland areas are part of the Central American Dry Corridor, which experiences severe drought conditions for most of the year. Currently, Honduras has a population of over 9 million people and sadly only about 60% of the population have access to drinking water. In this thesis I aim to understand how deforestation practices, mining, and hydroelectric projects affect water access and quality for residents in Atlántida, Honduras and how this mayaffect the region's water management and provision strategies.