Water resources management in Bolivia

"Source": National Program for Climate Change cite web
url=http://www.pncc.gov.bo/esp/pdf/publicaciones/20-IVAR-vulnerabilidad2.pdf
title= El Cambio Climático en Bolivia (Análisis, Síntesis de Impactos y Adaptación)
author= Ministerio de Planificacion del Desarrollo
publisher= Ministerio de Planificacion del Desarrollo
date=2007
pages=p. 69
accessdate=2008-08-30]

Water resources management by sector

Drinking water and sanitation

Bolivia’s water and sanitation coverage has greatly improved since 1990 due to a considerable increase in sectoral investment. However, the country continues to suffer from what happens to be the continent’s lowest coverage levels as well as from low quality of services. The lowest levels of coverage are found in the departments of Pando, Potosí, and Oruro. Increasing coverage requires a substantial increase of investment financing, which has dropped back since 2000. ) [Source: Vice Ministry of Public Investment and External Financing]

The next table reflects access to water supply and sanitation services in 2006. "Source": Joint Monitoring Program WHO/UNICEF( [http://www.wssinfo.org/en/welcome.html JMP] /2006). Data for [http://www.wssinfo.org/pdf/country/BOL_wat.pdf water] and [http://www.wssinfo.org/pdf/country/BOL_san.pdf sanitation] based on the Housing Survey (2002), Boliva Democratic and Health Survey (2003), and Survey of Multiple Indicators by Conglomerates ("Encuesta de Multiples Indicadores por Conglomerados", 2000).

Irrigation and drainage

The government considers irrigated agriculture as a major contributor to "better quality of life, rural and national development" and is undertaking a major institutional reform in sector including the creation of a National Irrigation Plan. Bolivia has an irrigated area of approximately 2,265 km³ or about 11% of the total agricultural land 21,000 km³. There are about 5,000 irrigation systems in Bolivia, most of them located in the South and Southwestern areas (Valles and Antiplano). These irrigation systems consist of rudimentary web of canals supplied by rainfall with few regulatory schemes such as dams, which makes them very vulnerable to seasonality of rain.Overall efficiency of irrigation systems varies from 18-30% in traditional systems to 35-50% in improved systems.cite web
url=http://www.riegobolivia.org/documentos/PlanNacionaldeRiego/PlanNacionaldeRiego.pdf
title=Plan Nacional de Riego
author=Viceministerio de Riego
publisher=Ministerio del Agua
date=July 2007
pages= pp. 20–23
accessdate= 2008-04-11]

Hydropower

The electricity sector in Bolivia was privatized in the early 1990s. The supply is dominated by thermal generation (60%), while hydropower (40%) has a smaller share in its generation mix compared to other South American countries (LAC average hydropower capacity is 51% [http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/electricitycapacity.html EIA Statistics] ] . The electricity coverage in rural areas is among the lowest in Latin America.

Aquatic ecosystems

Bolivian ecosystems are linked with the characteristics of every river basin. The Endorreic basin hosts a typical [http://www.eoearth.org/article/Central_Andean_dry_puna Andean dry puna] , the inter-Andean valleys host Montano forest, and the east valleys host tropical forests and wet savannas. These three areas differ on type of soil and climate affecting (irrigated) agriculture in many ways. The endorreic basin, with little vegetation and precipitation and 40% of Bolivia’s population, has traditionally dedicated to agriculture and mining. In the inter-Andean valleys, with step slopes, need of adequate irrigation infrastructure and terraces to avoid soil erosion. These valleys produce high crop yields and have a positive impact on Bolivia’s overall economy. Drainage systems and fragility of soil are the main challenges in the tropical east. Agriculture in this area has grown to produce soya, cotton, sunflowers, and sugarcane.

Legal and institutional framework

Legal framework

The Water Ministry is actually in the process of crafting a Water Law that will integrate water for multiple users on a coherent and unique legal document. In the main time, two of the most important sectors in terms of social impact are regulated under a specific law, namely the Water and Sanitation Services Law No. 2066 and the Irrigation Law No. 7828.

The Irrigation Law establishes a system for granting and registering traditional water user rights “guaranteeing legally and permanently water for irrigation.” This registration of water rights for irrigation limits somehow the way in which the government can grant access to other water users through the future Water Law. .cite web
url=http://www.aguabolivia.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=63
title= Ley de Riego, Derechos Colectivos y Derecho Humano al Agua. Reflexiones Sobre la Ley de Promoción al Sector Riego No. 2878 y su Reglamentación
author= Bustamente, Rocío
publisher=Comision para la Gestión Integral del Agua en Bolivia
accessdate=2008-06-25]

The Water and Sanitation Services Law No. 2029 of 1999, was revised in 2000 after Cochabamba’s water war into Law No. 2066. The new law includes provisions for protection of traditional water-sharing arrangements through a system of official licenses and increase local communities participation in decision making processes such as the establishment of water tariffs. The [http://www.sisab.gov.bo Agency for the Supervision of Basic Sanitation (SISAB)] , (Superintendencia de Agua y Saneamiento Basico) which grants concessions and licenses and establishes the principles to set prices, tariffs, taxes, and quotas, [ Law #2029 [http://www.sias.gov.bo/vsb.leyes_a01.asp VSB] ] was not modified by the new Law. The Government of Evo Morales considers passing a new water and sanitation services law called “Water for Life”. According to Vice-Minister Rene Orellana, this new legal framework would eliminate the SISAB and introduce a decentralized regulator in its place. Regulatory taxes would be eliminated along with the legal concept of the concession. A preferential electricity tariff would be introduced for EPSAs and community water rights would be strengthened.cite web
url=http://www.aguabolivia.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=63
title=El Proyecto de Ley de Servicios de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado Sanitario: Agua para la Vida
author=Crespo Flores, Carlos
publisher=Comisión para la Gestión Integral del Agua en Bolivia
accessdate=2008-06-25]

Institutional framework

The Water Ministry, the national water authority, created in 2006 though Law No. 3351 is responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and funding plans and policies for water resources management. It consists of three vice ministries: (i) irrigation, (ii) basic services, and (iii) river basin and water resources.

At the regional level, and according to the Administrative Decentralization Law, the prefectures are responsible for water management and conservation of water resources, including integrated water resources management under a river basing management approach.

At the local level, the municipalities are responsible for water management and development inside its jurisdiction according to the Municipalities Law. Local actors include water users and farmer organizations, campesino communities, indigenous people, public and private enterprises, NGOs, Universities, and public local entities.

The [http://www.aguabolivia.org/Consejo Interinstitucional del Agua] (CONIAG), created in 2002 though Decree No. 26599, is aimed at create a forum for government, social and economic organizations to agree on legal, institutional and technical aspects related to water resources management.

Government strategy

Morales’ administration is currently in the process of developing water resources management in Bolivia under the framework of the Policy known as “Agua para Todos.”Particularly the government is aiming at: (i) establishing a sustainable, participatory, and integral water resources management through the Water Resources Management National Strategy, River Basin National Plan and Water Sector Information Program; (ii)protecting ecosystems through a Desertification Prevention Plan; (iii)increasing civil society collaboration through a Coordination Mechanisms Strengthening Plan

Economic aspects

Water pricing, cost recovery and subsidies

The Water Law of 1906 did not establish any type of payment for water use. Irrigation legislation establishes a payment for water use equal to maintenance of the water system. The irrigation associations are in charge of establishing the water tariff which does not include cost recovery or upgrading or extending the water system. The [http://www.sisab.gov.bo Agency for the Supervision of Basic Sanitation (SISAB)] has the responsibility of establishing water tariffs including const recovery and extension of services. For water supply and sanitation in the rural area, there are per capita subsidies of US$70 for water supply and 65US$ for sanitation. Moreover, the is an indirect subsidy on interest rates for internal financing funds and those projects co financed by Non-governmental organizations.

Para los sistemas de agua potable y alcantarillado sanitario en el área rural existe un sistema de subsidios indirectos que se ejecutan a través de proyectos públicos. Este subsidio es de 70 $US para agua potable y US$65 para alcantarillado (son subsidios per cápita), además existe un subsidio implícito en las tasas de interés que cobran los Fondos de financiamiento interno y los proyectos cofinanciados por las ONG’s.

The campesino and indigenous community have never paid for water use. This together with the fact that they are the poorest group in Bolivia has traditionally excluded this group for water user tariffs in Water Law drafted in the past. Moreover, the Water Law of 1906 does not either establish a system to grant water rights. Hence to this date, there is no document or title defining who and to which extent water can be used in Bolivia. cite web
url=http://www.aguabolivia.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=94
title=Información Sobre la Gestión del Agua en Bolivia
author=Mattos, Roger
publisher=Comision para la Gestión Integral del Agua en Bolivia
date=2000
accessdate=2008-07-01]

National investment

Bolivia’s national investment on water resources has been in decline at the beginning of this century but has increased in the last couple of years.

Budgeted and actual investment on water resources

"Source": [http://www.vipfe.gov.bo/dgip/index.html Vice Ministry of Public Investment and External Financing]

External cooperation

The Inter-American Development Bank is currently implementing a US$ 300,000 project to create a strategy for integrated management of water resources together with the Water Ministry. The Dutch and Swedish cooperation agencies collaborated with the River Basin and Water Resources Viceministry to create the River Basin National Plan. This plan was approved on May 2007. The River Basin and Water Resources Viceministry is currently implementing the plan on 12 selected basins in Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz and Oruro departments with a total investment of US$6 million.cite web
url=http://www.bolpress.com/art.php?Cod=2007012205
title=Ministerio del Agua Diseña Ley Marco del Agua para Ordenamiento Jurídico del Recurso Hídrico
author=Bolpress
publisher=Bolpress
accessdate=2008-06-25]

The Irrigation Viceministry has channeled national and cooperation funds including US$16 million from Corporacion Andina de Fomento, US$18 million from [http://www.gtz.de/en/ GTZ] and the Interamerican Development Bank with US$ 270 million to prepare and implement a number of irrigation projects . (See article)

Particularly in the area of Climate Change, the GEF Council approved in June 2007 the Regional Adaptation to the Impacts of Rapid Glacier Retreat in the Tropical Andes (Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru) Project. This project aims at implementing adaptation measures to meet the anticipated consequences of glacier retreat induced by climate change.

Notes and References

ee also

*Irrigation in Bolivia
*Water supply and sanitation in Bolivia

External links

* [http://www.aguabolivia.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=28 Comisión para la Gestión Integral del Agua en Bolivia]
* [http://www.vipfe.gov.bo/ Ministry for Planning and Development]