LAC: Integrated Water Resources Management: towards a water secure future
In Latin America, just like in other parts of the world, the economy, health, ecosystems and food production all rely on this one precious resource: enough water of the right quality, now and in the future. The climate, meteorological phenomena like El Niño o La Niña, socio-economic diversity and the rich landscape of Latin American countries, make water management a real challenge. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a highly effective and inclusive process to improve water security.
Many countries in Latin America include IWRM in their policy and explore best practices to apply it successfully for strategic planning of their water systems. Often the challenges rely on several aspects of the process, including technical and governance aspects, such as assessing correctly the hazards and risks, identifying the most appropriate measures and strategies, but also conducting successful multistakeholder processes to co-create and strengthen appropriation of the plans.
For example, Colombia has the National Policy for the Integrated Management of Water Resources, which include strategic action lines to develop basin management plans and aquifer management plans among others, and coordinate their strategies.
At Deltares, experts in the disciplines relevant for IWRM such as governance, surface water, groundwater, water quality, ecosystems, climate adaptation, water allocation, flooding, droughts, and finances, collaborate to develop integrated strategic plans, including adaptation pathways, to support water authorities advance towards a water secure future.
Our modelling knowledge and the capabilities of our open software to integrate hydrological, hydrogeological and water quality processes, form the basis to provide reliable information to build the strategic plans.
Examples of our work
Tool for Integrated Water Management – HERMANA (Colombia)
This pilot developed a real-time web-based water information tool to support integrated water management. It displays weather and water data and generates user-defined overviews, forecasts, and warnings tailored to the needs of water authorities and their stakeholders.
Contact persons: Jan Talsma and Marta Faneca.
Valuing Water Journey: Chancay-Lambayeque (Perú)
Developing a strategy for systemic change for the true value of water and water risks to be internalised in public and private investment decisions. Driving in the economic development paradigm of Peru towards a win-win model for economy and environment that ensures truly sustainable and resilient economic growth and development.
Development of strategic plan for water security for the Chancay-Lambayeque basin and early private sector involvement to leverage private financing in watershed conservation. This project was connected to a larger Valuing Water Initiative that promoted a value perspective for better water management in the Latin American region.
Contact persons: Betsy Romero and Begoña Arellano Jaimerena.
Aquifer Management Plan in Cali and Cauca Valley, Colombia
The city of Cali is located in the Cauca Valley, an important economic region in Colombia. Most of the water is used for agriculture, specifically sugar cane, and the water authorities have a real challenge in managing the water resources.
Deltares, in a consortium with IHE, the local government and local consultants, developed the Aquifer Management Plan for the city and the Valley, following the guidelines established by the Colombian government, and utilising state of the art knowledge and monitoring and modelling techniques.
Contact persons: Marta Faneca and William Oliemans.
Development of a water balance model of the Pantanal river basin and assessment of the expected impact of climate change on the Pantanal region (Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia)
As part of its commitment to integrated water resources management, Deltares supported the development of a modelling and diagnostic system for the Pantanal basin (Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia).
This system combines the Wflow hydrological model, HEC-RAS hydrodynamic model, and the REACT ecosystem framework, all integrated through Delft-FEWS, to assess water balance and ecosystem services under various climate scenarios.
The project also included in-person training to transfer knowledge and build local capacity for sustainable water governance in this ecologically vital region.
Contact person: Judith Blaauw.
