Evaluación del Estado Actual de la Gestión Integral del Recurso Hídrico Subterráneo en Colombia

Abstract

This research project evaluates the way in which the integral management of underground water resources -IWRM- is being applied in Colombia by the different environmental entities in charge of the protection of the country's natural resources. The methodology based on the definition of the state of the art of groundwater management in Colombia is used, using heuristics and hermeneutics as essential tools in the process of generating the state of the art. The actors defined as competent authorities in groundwater management are the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development-MINANBIENTE (governing body for the management of the environment and renewable natural resources), the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies-IDEAM ( responsible for evaluating the status, dynamics and monitoring of groundwater), the Colombian Geological Service-SGC (responsible for the acquisition and analysis of hydrogeological-based information) and the Regional Autonomous Corporations-CAR (directly responsible for groundwater management). Information regarding groundwater management and the generation of hydrogeological information was requested and reviewed, evaluating the National Policy for the Management of Water Resources, the National Groundwater Program, the National Water Study, twelve Aquifer Environmental Management Plans and twelve conceptual hydrogeological models and regional hydrogeological assessments. The results indicate that in the PMAA only the preparation, diagnosis and formulation phases were carried out, most of them being in accordance with the requirements requested in the technical guide for the elaboration of these plans, while in the regional hydrogeological models the more important activities than those recommended in the groundwater exploration program. Therefore, it is concluded that the evaluated phases of the PMAA comply mostly with what is stipulated in the methodological guide, seeing the need for the implementation and presentation of results of the execution and evaluation phases, and that the results of the models Hydrogeological revised are adequate for the scale of investigation. It is also concluded that on the part of the Corporations there is a lack of interest in the formulation of new aquifer management plans, since many of these entities with important aquifers in their jurisdiction were identified.