Abstract
Collective groundwater management by water users—self-regulation—is increasingly advocated as a complement to state regulation. This article analyzes the attempts by the Guanajuato State Water Commission (CEAG) in central Mexico to promote user self-regulation through the establishment and development of 14 Consejos Técnicos de Aguas (COTAS; Technical Water Councils). Based on a joint assessment by a former senior CEAG policy-maker and two researchers, Guanajuato’s groundwater-management policy is reviewed to understand why user self-regulation was less successful than expected. It concludes that increasing awareness and improving the knowledge base on groundwater is not enough to trigger self-regulation by groundwater users. A wider delegation of responsibilities to the COTAS is necessary, combined with: (1) functioning mechanisms for enforcing groundwater legislation, especially concerning well permits and pumped volumes, and (2) mechanisms that ensure the legitimacy and accountability of users’ representatives to both users and state agencies.
Résumé
La gestion collective des eaux souterraines par les usagers de l’eau—l’auto-régulation—est de plus en plus préconisée en complément à la réglementation nationale ou fédérale. Cet article analyse les essais effectués par la commission de l’eau de l’Etat de Guanajuato (CEAG), au centre du Mexique, pour promouvoir l’auto-régulation par l’usager, par la constitution et le développement de 14 Consejos Técnicos de Aguas (COTAS; Conseils techniques de l’eau). Basée sur l’évaluation conjointe d’un ancien décideur politique expérimenté de la CEAG et de deux chercheurs, la politique de gestion des eaux souterraines du Guanajuato est réexaminée afin de comprendre pourquoi l’auto-régulation par l’usager a été moins efficace que prévu. Les conclusions sont que l’augmentation de la prise de conscience et l’amélioration des connaissances de base sur les eaux souterraines ne sont pas suffisantes pour déclencher une auto-régulation par les usagers des eaux souterraines. Une délégation plus large des responsabilités aux COTAS est nécessaire, associée à : (1) des mécanismes opérationnels pour appliquer la législation sur les eaux souterraines, en particulier pour les autorisations de forages et les volumes prélevés, et (2) des mécanismes qui assurent la légitimité et la responsabilité des représentants des usagers vis-à-vis tant des usagers que des agences de l’Etat.
Resumen
El manejo colectivo del agua subterránea por usuarios—autoregulació—es crecientemente propugnado como un complemento de la regulación estatal. Este artículo analiza los intentos del Guanajuato State Water Commission (CEAG) en México central para promover la autoregulación por usuarios a través del establecimiento de 14 Consejos Técnicos de Aguas (COTAS; Technical Water Councils). Basado en una evaluación conjunta de antiguos y caracterizados responsables de la política del CEAG y dos investigadores de Guanajuato se revisó el manejo del agua para entender porque la autoregulación del usuario fue menos exitosa de lo esperado. Se concluye que el incremento de la conciencia y el mejoramiento de las bases del conocimiento sobre el agua subterránea no es suficiente para provocar la autoregulación por los usuarios del agua subterránea. Es necesaria una mayor delegación de responsabilidad al COTAS combinado con (1) mecanismos de funcionamiento para reforzar la legislación del agua subterránea, especialmente en lo concerniente al permiso de los pozos y los volúmenes bombeados, y (2) los mecanismos que aseguren la legitimidad y responsabilidad de los representantes de los usuarios tanto para los usuarios como para las agencias estatales.
摘要
用水户通过自我调节共同管理地下水, 作为政府调节的辅助, 越来越被提倡。本文分析了墨西哥中部瓜纳华托州水委会(CEAG)通过14个COTAS (水的技术委会)的建立和发展来促进用户自我调节用水的尝试。基于由前 CEAG决策人和两名研究人员提出的一个共同评估结果, 本文对对瓜纳华托州地下水管理政策进行分析, 指出用户自我调节未达到预期效果的原因, 提出仅仅靠增强和提高地下水方面的意识和知识对引导地下水使用者自我调节是不够的。赋予COTAS更广层面上的权限是有必要的。并应该与下述两点结合: 1)对地下水法的执法功能, 尤其在凿井及抽水量许可方面; 2)对于用户和政府部门两方面, 都要确保用户代表的合法性和对其问责的机制。
Resumo
A gestão colectiva de águas subterrâneas pelos utilizadores da água—auto-regulação—é cada vez mais defensável, como complemento à regulação pelo estado. Este artigo analisa as tentativas da Comissão do Estado da Água em Guanajuato (CEAG), no México central, para promover o uso auto-regulado através do estabelecimento e desenvolvimento de 14 Conselhos Técnicos de Águas (COTAS). Com base na avaliação conjunta de um responsável político sénior do CEAG e de dois investigadores, a política de gestão da água subterrânea em Guanajuato foi revista, para entender o porquê da auto-regulação estar a ter menos sucesso do que o esperado. Concluiu-se que o aumento da consciencialização e a melhoria da base de conhecimentos sobre as águas subterrâneas não eram suficientes para desencadear a auto-regulação pelos utilizadores da água subterrânea, e que é necessária uma maior delegação de responsabilidades nos COTAS, em combinação com: (1) o funcionamento de mecanismos de aplicação da legislação de águas subterrâneas, especialmente no que concerne às autorizações para execução de captações e volumes de bombeamento permitidos, e (2) mecanismos que assegurem a legitimidade e a responsabilidade dos representantes dos utilizadores em relação quer aos próprios utilizadores, quer aos órgãos do estado.
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Wester, P., Sandoval Minero, R. & Hoogesteger, J. Assessment of the development of aquifer management councils (COTAS) for sustainable groundwater management in Guanajuato, Mexico. Hydrogeol J 19, 889–899 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0733-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0733-2