QUESTIONNAIRE: RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM PARTICIPANTS AND
SYNTHESIS
April 2012
Nelson da Franca and Zelmira May
•
A QUESTIONNAIRE ON GROUNDWATER GOVERNANCE WAS
PREPARED INCLUDING 12 QUESTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS OF
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN REGIONAL CONSULTATION
•
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS POSSIBLE
THANKS TO THE COLLABORATION OF BOB VARADY, NELSON DA
FRANCA, ANDREA MERLA, ALICE AURELI, LUIZ AMORE AND
SHARON MEGDAL AND THE SUPPORT OF UNESCO TEAMS IN
PARIS AND MONTEVIDEO.
•
THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS RECEIVED WITH ENTHUSIASM WITH
AN EXCELENT RESULT ACHIEVED: 42 RESPONSES FROM 19
COUNTRIES OF THE REGION.
42 RESPONSES FROM 19 COUNTRIES
• ARGENTINA - INA/UNB Y FICH/UL
• HAITI - UQ
• BAHAMAS – WSC / WRMO
• HONDURAS – Plan Trifinio
• BARBADOS – CIMH
• JAMAICA – WRA
• BOLIVIA – MRE
• MEXICO – UNAM, IMTA,
COTAS, Consultor
• BRAZIL – ANA, MMA, CPRM, ABAS, UFAL, AGUAONLINE, ITAIPU, USP, ABRH • PERU – SENAMHI
• CHILE – CAZALAC, Consultant
• REP. DO. – INDRHI
• COLOMBIA - IDEAM
• COSTA RICA – UCR, DA / MAET
• URUGUAY – DNH, OSE, FI
and FD-UdelaR, VIDA SILVESTRE
• CUBA – INRH
• GUATEMALA – Plano Trifinio
• VENEZUELA – INAMHI
• EL SALVADOR- Plano Trifinio
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1.
To your knowledge, which institutions are involved in groundwater
governance in your area/country? Should additional ones be involved?
• IN ALL THE LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES
SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS EXIST RELATED TO GROUNDWATER
GOVERNANCE AT THE NATIONAL/FEDERAL, AT STATE/DEPARTMENT
LEVEL AND SOME AT MUNICIPAL LEVEL
• IN ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL GROUNDWATER IS UNDER THE
DOMAIN/MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENTS / STATES.
• IN BIGGER COUNTRIES, THE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS IS HIGH,
WHILE IN THE SMALL ONES THERE ARE FEWER INSTITUTIONS
RESPONSIBLE FOR GROUNDWATER.
• IN ALMOST NONE OF THE COUNTRIES IT IS CONSIDERED THAT NEW
INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE CREATED. WHAT IS MISSING IS BETTER
INSTITUTTIONAL COORDINATION, CLEAR ROOM FOR COORDINATION,
AND STREGNTHENING OF THE EXISTING ONES.
2.
Do adequate groundwater institutions exist at different government
levels (national/sub-national /local) acting in your area/country? In what
aspects should then be supported?
•
YES! AT NATIONAL/DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL. THAT WAS THE
RESPONSE FOR ALMOST ALL THE COUNTRIES. THE EXCEPTION IS
GOVERNANCE AT THE LOCAL/ MUNICIPAL LEVEL.
• IN THE MEANTIME, IN PRACTICE, THERE ARE SOME BLANKS
REGARDING THE ENFORCEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES, SOMETIMES
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CLEARLY IDENTIFIED BY THE
DECISION-MAKERS AND SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF POLITICAL
CONVENIENCE.
• SOME COUNTRIES WOULD RATHER HAVE A BETTER LEGAL
DEFINITION FOR GROUNDWATER AS WELL AS TRAINED STAFF ON
THE TOPIC.
• OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD RATHER HAVE GREATER POLITICIAL
SUPPORT TO THE INSTITUTIONS WORKING ON GROUNDWATER
GOVERNANCE
3.
What are the groundwater governance priorities at the different
government levels (national/sub-national/local) in your area/country?
• IN SOME COUNTRIES THERE ARE PRIORITIES INSTITUTIONALLY
DEFINED AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL AS IT IS THE CASE OF COSTA
RICA (NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, 2011-2014) AND BRAZIL
(NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES PLAN – PNRH)
•
IN SOME OTHERS THE PRIORITIES
INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL LEVEL:
ARE
ESSENTIALLY
AT
-
Approval of the General Water Law (El Salvador, Honduras and
Guatemala)
-
Development of the Integrated Groundwater Plan (Haiti)
-
Establishment of a integrated Water Resources Plan/ groundwater
(Peru)
-
Definition of a programme for improved water quality control
(Dominican Republic)
-
Implementation of a Integrated Water Resources Management
National Plan (Uruguay)
• AND IN OTHERS THE PRIORITIES FOR WATER MANAGEMENT ARE
MORE AT THE TECHNICAL LEVEL:
-
lmprove the management and monitoring of groundwater resources
(Costa Rica and Venezuela)
-
Stabilization of overexploited aquifers (México)
-
Widen control and supervision of groundwater (various)
4.
Do formal groundwater policies and legislation exist in your
area/country? If so, are they applied and enforced?
• YES, THERE ARE IN MANY COUTRIES OF THE REGION: ARGENTINA,
BRAZIL, CHILE, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PERU, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC,
AMONG OTHERS.
•
GENERALLY, AT NATIONAL/FEDERAL LEVEL, AS WELL AS
DEPARTMENTAL/STATE LEVEL, THEY ARE APPLIED AND ENFORCED,
BUT MANY TIMES AT LOCAL/MUNICIPAL LEVEL THERE IS A LACK OF
TECHNICAL STAFF WHAT PREVENTS THE APPLICATION OF THE
LEGISLATION AND SUPERVISION. AN EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE (A
GOOD
EXAMPLE
OF
GROUNDWATER
GOVERNANCE)
IS
THE
MUNICIPALITY OF RIBEIRÃO PRETO, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL THAT USES
GROUNDWATER FROM THE GUARANI AQUIFER.
5.
What are the challenges and barriers to groundwater governance in
your area/country? Why?
EVERY COUNTRY HAS SPECIAL CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES, BUT
THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE COMMON TO ALMOST ALL OF THEM:

LACK OF GROUNDWATER KNOWLEDGE, INCLUDING ITS
POTENTIAL USE AND VULNERABILITIES, BY THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL,
THE MEDIA, THE PARLIAMENTARIAS, AND THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT.
 LACK OF BETTER ORGANIZATIONS OF GROUNDWATER USERS,
ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE, MINING, DRINKING
WATER, AMONG OTHERS.
 FAILURE TO CONDUCT STUDIES AND UPDATE OF GROUNDWATER
MONITORING NETWORKS AND HYDROGEOLOGICAL DATA BANKS WITH
SUFFICIENT RESOURCES, AS WELL AS TRAINING PROGRAMS.
• AMONG THE SOLUTIONS, SEVERAL COUNTRIES RECOMMEND:
- INCLUDE GROUNDWATER IN THE NATIONAL AGENDA.
- STRENGTHEN
GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES
AND
GROUNDWATER ADMINISTRATIVE DISCONTINUANCE
PREVENT
- CHANGE "THE BELIEF THAT GROUNDWATER IS FREE AND
ANYONE CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT"
6.
What are the main problems related to groundwater quality/quantity
in your area/country? What are the scales (national/sub-national/local) of
the main problems?
• IN GENERAL, PROBLEMS ARE IN SPECIFIC AREAS AND WELL
DEFINED IN ALMOST ALL COUNTRIES. MEANWHILE, IN SOME
SMALL COUNTRIES THEIR SUM MAKES THEM OF NATIONAL
SCOPE.
• THIS PROBLEMS ARE:
-
OVEREXPLOITATION: 1) DECREASE OF GROUNDWATER
LEVELS, AND 2) SALINE INTRUSION IN COASTAL ZONES.
-
POLLUTION RELATED TO: 1) URBANIZATION – ESPECIALLY
NITRATES AND PATHOGEN MICROORGANISMS; 2) AGRITOXICS
IN THE RURAL AREAS; 3) SALINIZATION OF SOILS; 4) MINING
ZONES; 5) BAD CONSTRUCTED WELLS; 6) GEOLOGICAL
PROBLEMS.
IN ARGENTINA THERE IS A REGIONAL QUALITY PROBLEM
BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF ARSENIC, FLUORIDE
AND OTHERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHACO-PAMPEANA REGION
AND THE NORTHEAST OF THE COUNTRY.
7. What is the best way to increase the level of investment on
groundwater at local, national and regional levels, and what are the
main investment needs?
• THERE IS A MATCH ON THESE TWO POINT IN THE MAJORITY OF
THE COUNTRIES.
- TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL GROUNDWATER
PLANS;
INFORMATION,
CAPACITY
DEVELOPMENT,
AND
INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING PROGRAMMES FOR THOSE
INSTITUTIONS IN CHARGE OF GROUNDWATER; AS WELL AS
ENFORCMENT OF LEGISLATION, CHARGING FOR THE USE OF
GROUNDWATER AND IMPROVE ITS MANAGEMENT.
- TO CHARGE THE REAL COST OF GROUNDWATER AND MORE IN
THE OVER-EXPLOITED AQUIFERS TO COVER OPERATING COSTS
AND TRAINING OF USERS (MEXICO).

AMONG THE MAJOR INVESTMENT NEEDS ARE: STUDIES TO
IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE AQUIFER, QUALITY AND
QUANTITY
MONITORING,
STRENGTHENING
OF
BOTH
INSTITUTIONS AND STAFF, PERMANENT TECHNICAL TRAINING,
SET UP OF EASY ACCESS DATA BANKS (INFORMATION SYSTEMS),
INCREASE INFORMATION ABOUT GROUNDWATER IN THE MEDIA,
PROTECTION OF RECHARGE AREAS AND AREAS PRONE TO
POLLUTION RISK.
8.
How could an interdisciplinary dialogue on groundwater governance
among public, private, academia, and civil society partners, and between
rural and urban partners, be established and sustained?
• SEVERAL IDEAS WERE PRESENTED THAT CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN
TWO MAJOR ONES:
- FIRSTLY, BY INCLUDING GROUNDWATERS IN THE MEDIA AT THE
NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL LEVEL AND THUS
POSITIONING THE TOPIC AS A PRIORITY OF POLICY AND
ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS.
- SECOND, THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE MEDIA, BY
DISSEMINATING THE GOVERNMENT PLANS RELATED TO
GROUNDWATER AND THE STRENGTHENING OF PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION INSTITUTIONS AS WATERSHED COMMITTEES
(BRAZIL), THE COTAS (MEXICO), LOCAL WATER AUTHORITY-ALA
AND AUTONOMOUS WATER AUTHORITIES (PERU), WATER
RESOURCES COUNCILS (URUGUAY). A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE
ITAIPU "CULTIVANDO AGUA BOA" (BRAZIL).
9. What are the important steps or actions needed to establish a shared
regional vision on groundwater governance? How do you see the role
of your institution in achieving such an outcome?
1.
THROUGH THE VARIOUS AGENCIES, PROGRAMMES AND
REGIONAL INTEGRATION PROJECTS SUCH AS "ANDEAN STRATEGY
FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (Andean countries), "PLAN
TRIFINIO" (Central America), "INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE OF
LA PLATA BASIN-CIC" ,"ORGANIZATION OF THE AMAZON
COOPERATION TREATY – OTCA” WITH THEIR TRANSBOUNDARY
PROJECTS, THE EXCHANGE AMONG UNIVERSITIES, AND OTHERS.
2.
IT IS NOTED THAT UNESCO STARTED IN THE 1980 IMPORTANT
ACTIONS SUCH AS THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL MAPPING OF SOUTH
AMERICA, THE ONE OF MESOAMERICA AND THE THAT OF THE
CARIBBEAN ISLANDS.
3.
FROM 2000 ON THROUGH UNESCO/OAS ISARM AMERICAS
PROGRAMME, AS WELL AS WHITH TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR
TECHNICIAN. IN ADDITION, WITH THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE OAS
SUPPORT FROM GEF-FUNDED PROJECT ON THE GUARANI AQUIFER
SYSTEM (ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, PARAGUAY AND URUGUAY).
4.
THIS REGIONAL CONSULTATION IS A STEP FURTHER FOR
ESTABLISHING THIS SHARED VISION.
10.
What are the main local problems and required steps needed to
establish an effective action to solve them and to improve local
groundwater governance? How do you see the role of your institution on
supporting local actions?
•
AS INDICATED BY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM COSTA RICA,
GROUNDWATER IS INVISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, THE POLITICIANS AND
EVEN THE EXPERTS, AND THEREFORE ITS IMPACTS HAVE A SLOW
ONSET.
• LOCAL PROBLEMS ARE VERY DIFFERENT AND VARY ACCORDING TO
THE
HYDROGEOLOGICAL
REGION.
MEANWHILE,
SEVERAL
COUNTRIES INDICATED THE DETERIORATION OF GROUNDWATER
QUALITY (POLLUTION), OVEREXPLOITATION, AND THE LACK OF
HYDROGEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE, AMONG OTHERS.
• ACTIONS HAVE TO BE PART OF A CASE BY CASE DIAGNOSIS AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF REALISTIC AND APPLICABLE MANAGEMENT
MODELS, A MINIMUM MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
LEGISLATION ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE MANAGEMENT
ALL
ACTIONS
AND
PROTECTION,
EDUCATION,
SOCIAL
COMMUNICATION AND PARTICIPATION (Argentina)
11.
If you work in or have knowledge of a particular case study related
to groundwater governance in your area, please provide a very brief
description of it—including characteristics of the groundwater (i.e.:
aquifer), area, scale, use, stakeholders, institutional setting, actual
groundwater issue/s.
• SEVERAL CASE STUDIES FROM THE LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES WERE PRESENTED, NAMELY: NORTH
ANDROS (Bahamas); GUARANI (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay);
YRENDA – TOBA – TARIJEÑO (Argentina and Bolivia); CHAPADA DO
APODI (Brazil); PAN DE AZUCAR – COQUIMBO (Chile); SARDINAL (Costa
Rica); RIO COBRE (Jamaica); MASSACRE (Haiti and Dominican Republic);
SAN LUIS DE POTOSI (Mexico); ICA-TACNA (Peru); RIO PRATAGY
(Brazil); ACUIFEROS COSTEROS DE SANTO DOMINGO Y COSTA DE
HERMOSILLO (Mexico); AREAL CENTRAL DE LA PROVINCIA DE SANTA
FE (Argentina); PS ORINOCO (Venezuela); MERCEDES (Uruguay); UVERO
ALTO – BAVARO – PUNTA CANA (Dominican Republic); REGION HULHA
NEGRA – CANDIOTA – ACEGUA (Brazil); CABEÇAS (Brazil).
12.
What is your key message on groundwater governance and to
whom would you like to address it?
•
THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT MESSAGES ADDRESSED MAINLY
TO THE POLITICIANS AND USERS AIMING AT PRESERVING AND
PROTECTING THE RESOURCE THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL FOR THE
LIVES OF MANY REGIONS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.
THERE ARE MESSAGEST TO GOVERNMENTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY,
THE LATTER CALLED TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN GOVERNING
GROUNDWATER.
•
“CONSIDERING GROUNDWATER AS AN ELEMENT FOR INTEGRATION,
TAKING JOINTLY INTO ACCOUNT USERS, TECHNICIANS, AND
POLITICIANS” (Brazil).
•
“CONSIDERING GROUNDWATER A STRATEGIC WEALTH OF THE
COUNTRIES” (Uruguay)
•
“EACH COUNTRY SHOULD ENHANCE IT INVESTMENTS – FINANCIAL,
TECHNICAL,
INSTITUTIONAL
–
TO
IMPROVE
GROUNDWATER
GOVERNANCE” (Mexico)
•
“AS LONG AS GROUNDWATER RESOURCES CONSTITUTE THE
GREATEST FRESHWATER SOURCE ON EARTH, ITS GOVERNANCE,
MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION SHOULD BECOME A PRIORITY FOR
ALL. IN THIS SENSE, THE MULTILATERAL DIALOGUE AMONG ALL THE
ACTORS IS KEY, AND GROUNDWATER GOVERNANCE SHOULD BE
CLOSELY
LINKED
TO
INTEGRATED
WATER
RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT” (Argentina)
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