Presentation 2 Advanced Hydrology

Taking it One Step at a Time

Chile’s Sequential, Adaptive Approach to Achieving Three Es

By Ahmad Beltian WinnerCivil Engineering

14R57007

Index

• Introduction• The Development Context• The Approach• Instrument Used• Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and

Water Policies• Environment and water Management• Pending Challenges• Outcomes and Impacts• Lesson Learned

Introduction

• Chile’s move towards more sustainable development and management of its water resources has been one of gradual adaptation, closely tied to the country’s economic development

• In mid of 1970s, Chile pursued a development model based on three major – Maintaining Macroeconomic Equilibrium– Strengthening the role of the market plays at the resources– Opening up the economy to world markets

• This Approach led to increased water use and economic efficiency

Map of Chile IWRM in Practice

Analysis Problem

Development Context/Main Problem

• Continental Chile stretches out along a narrow strip of territory, 4,200 kilo meters long with an average width of 180 kilo meters, located between the Andean mountain range and the Pacific Ocean in the southern cone of South America. (200 Small basins)

• Water Use Efficiency Problem• Pollutant and Environment Problem• high levels of gastrointestinal and enteric• diseases downstream from the main cities and towns.• The growth in export agriculture posed a particular challenge for the water sector, since it did not

develop in areas where there are plentiful water resources, but in the north and the centre of the country.

• At the beginning of 1980s, the country had to face restrictions related to water quality and environmental protection and restoration issues. But in 1970s, radical economic reforms introduced by a new authoritarian government had a major impact on the water sector based on the major axes : – An economic policy directed at maintaining Macroeconomic equilibrium, by Controlling the fiscal deficit and

reducing inflation– A Policy of opening up the economy to international trade by allowing the export of products in which the

country is competitive and importing products in which the country is not– The Implementation of a series of market reforms in various sectors of the Economy and reducing the activities

undertaken by the state

Chilean Exports Based on water Resources

The Approach• The Functions of water management are shared between the state and the private

sector. The state has assumed the following function related to water resources : – Research and measurement of the water resource– Regulating water use to prevent overuse and damage to the right of third parties and assuring

environmental sustainability– Regulating services related to water resources and promoting conditions for their

economically efficient development– Conserving and protecting the water resource within the context of environmental

sustainability – Promoting the satisfaction of the basic needs of the poorest sectors of the population

• The Private sector has the following responsibilities : – Studying, Financing, Deciding on and Undertaking development projects related to the water

resources, including water supply and hydroelectricity projects. For these purposes water-use rights are treated as part of their commercial capital and water can be considered an input to the production process

– It is the job of the private sector, organized into user organizations, to distribute the resource according to the rights of each individual and to maintain the common distribution infrastructure.

Functions of the state and the private sector in relation to water resources

Instrument Used

• For this purpose, the main instruments are – Water Law

• Provided for the market to play a crucial role in two areas, Reallocation of water among private individuals and original allocation of water rights.

– Basic Environment Law• Emission and Environmental Quality standards have been issued for both

surface water and groundwater relating to the health of the population and the state of ecosystem

• Plans have been put in place for pollution prevention, if the pollution is about to surpass the standards, or for pollution clean up measures, if the standards have been exceeded

• The Environmental impact evaluation system (SEIA), this system evaluates large investment projects, both public and private, only applies to projects that affect the environment.

Integrated water Resources Management and Water Policies

The institutional changes that have occurred since the late 1970s in Chile must be understood as a process to build, step by step, an institutional framework inspired by IWRM.The main driver in this process has been the need to balance economic growth, based on products highly dependent on water resources in a context of scarcity, with environmental and social goals.For this purpose, the institutional framework takes an integrated approach to:• National Goals and Water Policies

– For example, In the case of policies regarding promotion of exports and investment, public health, agriculture development, social equity and others.

• Water Availability and Demand– Creating an institutional system where the water market gives signals about water scarcity through the price

of water right and increases in the water price provide incentives for the private sector to invest in improving water-use efficiency (Graph Slide 11)

• Water Allocation between different sectors and users,– The state determines the total water rights in a river or aquifer compatible with environmental sustainability.

When there is no longer water available to meet all the demands, water rights are allocated between the different sectors and users through the markets, with only few exceptions due to social reasons.

• Environment and Water Management– Under law of Council of Ministers (National Commission for Environment (CONAMA)’s highest authority),

Objective are : Economic Efficiency in water use, Social Equity, Environmental sustainability

Water Availability and Demand

Pending Challenges• Integrated basin water resources management

– Most of the water users organizations were created in terms of a law passed at the beginning of the 20th Century by landowners

– Conflict between Consumptive and non Consumptive have been generated– Does not adequately consider the cumulative impact of different projects,

at the basin level• Environmental Institutions

– In 1994 public agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders had neither experience nor specialist environmental impact evaluation, and environmental information and knowledge, especially on aquatic ecosystem, were poor.

• Strengthen water institutions capacity – Several Capacities at different levels must be develop

Outcomes and Impacts• Support to export policies

– Water use Efficiency and Productivity• By new technologies were adopted not to reduce but simple as a technological standard

for investment projects, exports, and Compete successfully in world market, almost 30% of irrigated land uses highly water efficient tehnologies.

• By 2000s, average consumption reached 0.75 cubic meter for each ton of mineral processed than at 1980s at the beginning of mining develop.

• For example, in the valleys in northern Chile, where the economic productivity of water increased by 58 per cent over a period of ten years(CAZALAC/RODHOS,2006)

– Water supply• Chile the indicators of water supply coverage has reached 99% of the 14 million

inhabitants that live in urban areas, and 85% of the 1.5 million rural inhabitants, the impact, chile become one of the Developed countries

– Pollution and environment• Since 1998, in accordance with environmental law and regulations/Pollution has

decreased substantially since 1998, when only 17% of the sewage was treated to 80% in 2007. Impact water supply and sewerage services have made a significant contribution to the health indices achieved (CEPIS,2000)

• Water Use Efficiency • Pollution and environment

Lessons Learned• The Chilean Case shows the interrelationship between the growth

of the country, its demand for water, and the emergence of environmental concerns related to the use of natural resources

• Its not the result of unique design or of a structure that was coherently conceived from day one;rather; it is the result of a process of improving the original design and addresses weaknesses.

• Policy implementation requires resolution of the financing question• Policies and Social goals should be kept compatible with real

capabilities of the country, particulary in the design of methods by which they will be financed.

• Chile has never had an explicit “IWRM policy” nor did the country ever set out to “implement IWRM”.