Urban sprawl in Cochabamba degrades aquifer recharge, worsening water scarcity

Researcher Carmen Ledo warns that urban expansion in Cochabamba is reducing aquifer recharge capacity across the Metropolitan, Valles, Andina, and Cono Sur regions, with 54% of households in the south lacking potable water. The situation reflects a chronic infrastructure deficit compounded by land-use pressures, though the immediate trigger is not specified.