Delivery of Correspondence, El Salvador

The Tri-national Network for the Rescue of the Lempa River today presented the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador with a letter requesting that March 14 of each year be declared National Lempa River Day.

The Lempa River is vital and strategic for El Salvador, as four hydroelectric power plants are located along its course, producing 38% of the country's energy demand. It supplies drinking water to more than 1.5 million inhabitants of the municipalities of the San Salvador Metropolitan Area (AMSS). and more than 10,000 hectares are equipped with irrigation districts for agricultural development.

More than 4.8 million people live in its basin, of whom 3.5 million are Salvadoran citizens. Despite its vital importance, since its source in Guatemala and throughout its course through Honduras and El Salvador, the Lempa River receives discharges of sewage, waste from open-air landfills, industrial and agro-industrial waste, such as “honey” water, a byproduct of coffee processing, pesticide residues, among other types of
pollutants that deteriorate the river and the quality of this precious resource.

Given the importance of promoting serious efforts aimed at “Rescuing the Lempa River,” and given the vital importance of this basin for the ecosystems, economy, industry, energy generation, human life, governance, and governability of El Salvador, the Tri-national Network for the Rescue of the Lempa River invites your prestigious media outlet to join us in this important citizen action in favor of the rescue and recovery of such an important natural resource.