Water engineering: A challenge for sustainable development for vulnerable communities-case Colombia

Maria Catalina Ramirez, Andrea Maldonado, Diana Calvo, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Luis Camilo Caicedo, David Gereda, Felipe Muñoz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

According to estimates of IDEAM1, Colombia has 742,705 drainage basin units, indicating the total water supply will surpass 2,000 km3/year, which corresponds to 57,000 m3/year*Hab. Despite this abundant water supply, in this country, a considerable amount of the population has no access to drinking water because of problems associated with availability (quantity, quality or accessibility), the rural population being the most affected. Currently in the country, 13.6 million people live in rural areas, of which 39.7% have no water supply system, 60% have no sanitary or sewer units and only 11% have access to treated water. The situation in 2009 was reflected by the 189,480 cases of disease and 7,900 people who died because of perinatal mortality, acute diarrheal disease, malaria, dengue, and cholera, all of which are diseases associated with water quality.Problems with the availability of water resources are associated with causes such as population growth, spatial distribution, pollution, and mismanagement of the resource associated with poor governing and implementation of policies. These problems make a water-rich country such as ours a failure in ensuring resource availability as a right for all the people. Although the legal structure in Colombia is one of the most important in Latin America, complementary mechanisms of action and control tend to be insufficient. For this reason, the Government, through the Decree 421/00, regulated by Resolution 151/01, has empowered organized communities constituted as non-profit legal entities, to provide public services in smaller municipalities and rural areas. This scenario requires linking different members with the objective to design innovative solutions to increase coverage of safe water. In this context, the organizational system, Ingenieros sin Fronteras - Colombia (ISFC), is established. Constituted by engineering schools (teachers and students) to work with communities and local government entities in formulating a social model which designs and implements technological solutions that are accessible and culturally appropriate. ISFC develops projects based on the CDIO approach (Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate), engineering solutions that improve the quality of life of vulnerable communities in Colombia, working together with them through collective participation.The chapter will address each of the problems mentioned by a critical analysis in light of the Millennium Development Goals and other United Nations regulations that require states to provide quality water. Additionally, it will also present a case study in a Colombian town in which ISFC, through collective participation and the CDIO methodology, improved the water quality of the population. The framework developed during this process is shown as a workable model to be replicated in other parts of Colombia, in order to propose innovative alternatives that generate sustainable development for the most vulnerable in Colombia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationWater Engineering
PublisherNova Science Publishers, Inc.
Pages215-274
Number of pages60
ISBN (Print)9781612099149
StatePublished - Apr 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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