Water resources management in Chile

Not to be confused with Water supply and sanitation in Chile.
Water resources management in Chile
Withdrawals by sector 2000
  • Domestic: 11%
  • Agriculture: 63%
  • Industry: 25%
Renewable water resources922 km3 (221 cu mi)
Surface water produced internally884 km3 (212 cu mi)
Groundwater recharge140 km3 (34 cu mi)
Overlap shared by surface water and groundwater140 km3 (34 cu mi)
Renewable water resources per capita54,868 m3/a (1,937,600 cu ft/a)
Wetland designated as Ramsar sites159,154 ha (393,280 acres)
Hydropower generation40%

Water Resources Management (WRM) in Chile is widely known for its 1981 Water Code—written after General Augusto Pinochet took control through a military coup d'état. Free-market mechanisms became the economic philosophy in WRM, including the development of water markets and tradable water permits.[1] A major reform to the 1981 Water Code was signed in 2005 to address social equity and environmental protection concerns.[2] Water resources management in Chile is shared among the private sector which provides investment for infrastructure and distribution, and agencies provide regulatory oversight, maintain records, and issue water rights. Chile is negotiating formalized agreements with both Bolivia[3] and Argentina[4] to manage shared resources and water storage projects. Chile is also supported in rural water supply with $150 million in loans by the World Bank[5] and the Inter-American Development Bank.[6]

Chile has three distinct hydrological regions:

  1. The dry northern regions, including the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth
  2. The central regions are temperate and support the largest population centers of Santiago and Valparaíso
  3. The sparsely populated southern provinces receive large quantities of rain and snow.

There are a number of important rivers in Chile. The longest river in Chile, the Loa River, is located in the Atacama Desert. The largest river by volume, the Rio Baker is found in the Aysén Region, of Patagonia, and the Biobío, a source of hydropower, and the Maipo supplies Santiago with water.

Water quality is quite good in Chile and is recognized for outstanding water supply and sanitation systems. The National Commission of the Environment (CONAMA) set a goal to treat 95% of wastewater by 2010.[7] Point source pollution from mining effluent and nonpoint source agricultural runoff is a problem as untreated water discharges into lakes, rivers, and aquifers.[8] Chile has improved in this area since the 1980 declaration to 'live in a pollution-free environment'.

Chile has increased exports of fruits and wine requiring improvements and growth in irrigation technology and management. Future hydroelectric projects on the Baker River are in planning stages and should help Chile cope with its energy demands. Hydroelectric projects generate 40% of Chile's electricity.[9] Copper mining is a major contributor to Chile's GDP and requires large volumes of water; thus creating contention between domestic uses for water and the needs to meet export demands of copper and fruits.[10] Many glaciers exist in Chile and climate change is increasing the rate of melting. As melting continues, experts agree that hydropower, irrigation, and water supply for human consumption may be diminished.[11]

  1. ^ Bauer, Carl J. (2004). "The Siren Song: Chilean Water Law as a Model for International Reform". Resources For the Future. Archived from the original on 2009-08-04. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  2. ^ Bauer, C. J. (2008). "The Role of Market Instruments in Integrated Water Management; The Experience of Chilean Water Markets" (PDF). pp. 4–5. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Business News Americas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Parlamento was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ World Bank (2004). "Chile Infrastructure for Territorial Development". Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  6. ^ Inter-American Development Bank (2007). "Rural Sanitation Program". Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  7. ^ Donoso, Guillermo & Melo, Oscar. (2006). "Water Quality Management in the Americas; Chapter 5: Water Quality Management in Chile: Use of Economic Instruments" (PDF). Springer Berlin Heidelberg: 229–251. doi:10.1007/3-540-30444-4_14. Retrieved 2009-05-21. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference UNEP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ FAO (2000). "Country Profile:Chile" (in Spanish). AQUASTAT. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  10. ^ Carriger, S., Williams, S. (2005). Water and Sustainable Development: Lessons From Chile. A policy brief based on: Water Development and Public Policy Strategies for the Inclusion of Water in Sustainable Development. (PDF). Santiago, Chile: Global Water Partnership. pp. 2–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-06-14. Retrieved 2009-06-01.{{cite conference}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Science Daily (2008). "Glaciers Are Melting Faster Than Expected, UN Reports". Retrieved 2009-06-01.