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Colombia

 

 Water Issues

 

Colombia has a rich supply of hydrologic resources including average annual rain fall levels more than three times greater than the global average and almost twice as great as the average for South America.  However, according to the World Health Organization, the municipalities that control the water supply process suffer from weak management that has resulted in both high water loss rates during the distribution phase (due to leaking, etc…) and a progressive decline in water quality; this situation is aggravated by subsidies water rates that do not accurately represent real costs.  Untreated effluents also present a problem.  Like other countries in the region, Colombia has recently privatized its water supply in certain regions and the continued debate over water privatization will have a profound effect on Colombia’s future with regards to water resource management. 

 

This information gathered from a report created by the Pan-American Health Organization, which can be found here: 

http://www.cepis.org.pe/bvsarg/e/fulltext/infcol/infcol.pdf

 

 Water Legislation

 

Normatividad sobre el Medio Ambiente

Ley N° 9 de 1979

Last Amended/Revised: 1997

Description: A national law that legislated on environmental protection in general; water supply; workers health; construction, food and drug industry sanitary regulations; epidemics; hazards; handling of corpses; home use utensils; and health rights.

 

Decreto N° 1594

Created: 1984

Description: Reglamenta parcialmente Ley Nº 9 de 1979  y el Decreto Ley Nº 2811 de 1974, en cuanto a usos del agua y residuos líquidos.

Abstract: El presente Decreto dispone que para destinar las aguas en forma genérica a los diferentes usos, se deberá desarrollar un plan de ordenamiento del recurso por parte de las Entidades encargadas del manejo y administración del recurso (EMAR) o del Ministerio de Salud en donde aquellas no existan. Cuando el presente Decreto se refiera a recurso, se entenderá por tal las aguas superficiales, subterráneas, marinas y estuarinas, incluidas las aguas servidas. Los criterios de calidad establecidos son guías para ser utilizados como base de decisión en el ordenamiento, asignación de usos al recurso y determinación de las características del agua para cada uso.

 

Resolución N° 1096

Created: 2000

 

Proyecto de Ley del Agua

Created: 2005

 

 Other Important Environmental Legislation

 

Código Nacional de Recursos Naturales Renovables y de Protección al Medio

Ambiente

Decreto N° 2811

Created: 1974

Last Amended/Revised: 2004

 

Ley General Ambiental de Colombia

Ley N° 99 de 1993

 

For a more environmental legislation in Colombia, see:

http://www.ideam.gov.co/legal/decretos/1970/index4.htm

 

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This page was last updated on Monday July 25, 2005.