Potable water is scarce on Taboga. The desalination plant on the
island, 13 miles from Panama City, has been inoperative for the
last 10 years. Water is supplied from underground wells, treated
by the Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers. This dry season, the
wells are only producing 12,000 gallons per day. If the math is
correct, a Tabogan has access to an average of 16 gallons a day,
well below the 113 gallon per person-average in the capital. The
water institute says it will build a new $2 million desalination
plant, which should be ready by the end of the year. Until the
rainy season begins, barges will transport one million gallons
of water to the island at a cost of $100,000.