Equity, Efficiency and Sustainability in Water Allocation in the Andes: Trade-offs in a Full World

Conflicts between water users are increasing, making evident the lack of a judicious, balanced and transparent procedure for water allocation. This is particularly apparent in regions where demand comes from users with a wide range of needs and different levels of power, and where human appropriatio...

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Κύριος συγγραφέας: María Cecilia Roa-García
Μορφή: Άρθρο
Γλώσσα:English
Έκδοση: Water Alternatives Association 2014-06-01
Σειρά:Water Alternatives
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Διαθέσιμο Online:http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol7/v7issue2/248-a7-2-2/file
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author María Cecilia Roa-García
author_facet María Cecilia Roa-García
author_sort María Cecilia Roa-García
collection DOAJ
description Conflicts between water users are increasing, making evident the lack of a judicious, balanced and transparent procedure for water allocation. This is particularly apparent in regions where demand comes from users with a wide range of needs and different levels of power, and where human appropriation of water is reaching unsustainable levels. Allocation mechanisms with varying degrees of governmental intervention exist in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and they reflect the priorities that these societies give to relevant normative principles governing water: equity, efficiency and sustainability. Water laws in these three countries indicate that 1) while efficiency has become the bastion of neo-liberalisation, equity and sustainability principles are either neglected or become subsidiary, 2) implicit definitions of equity fall short in promoting the interests of the disadvantaged, and 3) the complex definition, measurement and monitoring of what constitutes a sustainable scale of human water use, make it an impractical goal. Achieving a balance between equity, efficiency and sustainability appears unrealistic, suggesting the need to remove efficiency as a principle in water allocation and make it an important but subsidiary tool to equity and sustainability.
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spelling doaj.art-c00e72560f684565b51a36e87f2b1cb52022-12-21T22:39:09ZengWater Alternatives AssociationWater Alternatives1965-01751965-01752014-06-0172298319Equity, Efficiency and Sustainability in Water Allocation in the Andes: Trade-offs in a Full WorldMaría Cecilia Roa-García0Fundación Evaristo García, Cali, ColombiaConflicts between water users are increasing, making evident the lack of a judicious, balanced and transparent procedure for water allocation. This is particularly apparent in regions where demand comes from users with a wide range of needs and different levels of power, and where human appropriation of water is reaching unsustainable levels. Allocation mechanisms with varying degrees of governmental intervention exist in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and they reflect the priorities that these societies give to relevant normative principles governing water: equity, efficiency and sustainability. Water laws in these three countries indicate that 1) while efficiency has become the bastion of neo-liberalisation, equity and sustainability principles are either neglected or become subsidiary, 2) implicit definitions of equity fall short in promoting the interests of the disadvantaged, and 3) the complex definition, measurement and monitoring of what constitutes a sustainable scale of human water use, make it an impractical goal. Achieving a balance between equity, efficiency and sustainability appears unrealistic, suggesting the need to remove efficiency as a principle in water allocation and make it an important but subsidiary tool to equity and sustainability.http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol7/v7issue2/248-a7-2-2/fileWater allocationequityefficiencyscalesustainabilitycomparative lawAndes
spellingShingle María Cecilia Roa-García
Equity, Efficiency and Sustainability in Water Allocation in the Andes: Trade-offs in a Full World
Water Alternatives
Water allocation
equity
efficiency
scale
sustainability
comparative law
Andes
title Equity, Efficiency and Sustainability in Water Allocation in the Andes: Trade-offs in a Full World
title_full Equity, Efficiency and Sustainability in Water Allocation in the Andes: Trade-offs in a Full World
title_fullStr Equity, Efficiency and Sustainability in Water Allocation in the Andes: Trade-offs in a Full World
title_full_unstemmed Equity, Efficiency and Sustainability in Water Allocation in the Andes: Trade-offs in a Full World
title_short Equity, Efficiency and Sustainability in Water Allocation in the Andes: Trade-offs in a Full World
title_sort equity efficiency and sustainability in water allocation in the andes trade offs in a full world
topic Water allocation
equity
efficiency
scale
sustainability
comparative law
Andes
url http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol7/v7issue2/248-a7-2-2/file
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