Even though Azapa has water of adequate quality, it has two main disadvantages: the water is superficial and does not meet the demanding agricultural needs of the valley, and as a result, its aquifer is overburdened.
Azapa, aún cuando cuenta con aguas de adecuada calidad, enfrenta dos grandes inconvenientes: sus aguas superficiales ya no dan abasto para satisfacer las necesidades de la pujante agricultura del valle y por tanto, el acuífero está sobredemandado.