The two regions contain poor agricultural and pasture lands where, with the exception of a few cities, there are no waterworks facilities.
Residents meet their daily water needs with water obtained from wells.
However the wells have dried up due to the drought, forcing residents to drink unsanitary water from ponds. As a result some 2-3000 persons are suffering from diarrhea, dehydration, and other problems. Although water has been distributed in both departments using water trucks, the insufficient number of trucks has meant that most areas are not receiving adequate amounts of sanitary drinking water. On November 5, a note was delivered from the Paraguayan Foreign Minister to the Japanese embassy in Paraguay requesting emergency relief supplies. Beyond the pro-Japanese sentiment displayed by ordinary citizens, Paraguay consistently supports Japanese candidates running for election to positions in international agencies.