Taking it One Step at a

Time
Chiles Sequential, Adaptive Approach to
Achieving Three Es
By Ahmad Beltian Winner
Civil 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
Chiles move towards more sustainable
development and management of its water
resources has been one of gradual adaptation,
closely tied to the countrys 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.