Environmental Water Quality Chile
Encyclopedia
Chile
's privatization
of water has led to many environmental
problems. Since water tends to flow towards money it is being over-allocated to industries such as mining
and agriculture
. Of course, the ecosystem
itself cannot commit any money to securing water rights and the DGA has no powers for legislation
, all it can do is monitor the worsening situation. This is especially true in the northern Atacama Region
. In some regions of the north the Atacama regional governor has given out water permits totaling 16,000 cubic meters per second where it has been shown that replenishment rates are near 4,000 cubic meters per second. This imbalance causes water scarcity, which combined with warmer temperatures and less rainfall, has stressed local ecosystems immensely. In the Metropolitan Region of Santiago there has been an increase in wildfire
s and the country is hard pressed to keep up with mitigation efforts. In 2009 there were at least 290 fires, up from 143 in 2008, burning about 1035 hectares of land.
Besides lowering the amount of water available, mining and other industrial
activities release a large amount of hazardous chemicals and heavy metals such as chrome
, lead
, copper
, mercury
, and nickel
into rivers and municipal sewage systems. These metals are known to cause cancer
s and other neurological diseases
. It is estimated that only between 5 and 15 percent of sewage
is actually treated, while the remainder is pumped raw into streams and the ocean itself. Solid industrial waste
is often sent to landfill
s where it is exposed to precipitation
and surface run-off. This ultimately ends up in streams, or worse, the groundwater
aquifer
where drinking water
is obtained.
In 2000 an assessment determined that a one-time investment
of $1.4 million by the industrial firms would generate an annual savings of $1.9 million and a 32 percent reduction in pollution
. The assessment showed that it is possible to reduce pollution and save money, if the companies are willing or if the government takes stronger action. It is unlikely companies will take this action their own since the Chilean government is severely lacking in environmental regulation enforcement. That it not to say that there are no incentives for companies to treat industrial wastewater
, however. The Santiago
water and sewage utility – a private company – imposes charges based on the concentration of industrial effluent
and places limits on the maximum amount of major pollutant
s. It charges the companies a large amount if their waste levels are too high, a stronger incentive to reduce pollution. This demonstrates that companies are receptive to incentive
s and penalties
if they are implemented. If enough social pressure is put on the government perhaps legislation can be enacted to reduce the environmental impact
from major industries that have been given much leniency thus far.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
's privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
of water has led to many environmental
Environmental policy
Environmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...
problems. Since water tends to flow towards money it is being over-allocated to industries such as mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Of course, the ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
itself cannot commit any money to securing water rights and the DGA has no powers for legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
, all it can do is monitor the worsening situation. This is especially true in the northern Atacama Region
Atacama Region
The Atacama Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It comprises three provinces, Chañaral, Copiapó and Huasco. It is bordered to the north by Antofagasta, to the south by Coquimbo, to east with Provinces of Catamarca, La Rioja and San Juan of Argentina, and to west with...
. In some regions of the north the Atacama regional governor has given out water permits totaling 16,000 cubic meters per second where it has been shown that replenishment rates are near 4,000 cubic meters per second. This imbalance causes water scarcity, which combined with warmer temperatures and less rainfall, has stressed local ecosystems immensely. In the Metropolitan Region of Santiago there has been an increase in wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
s and the country is hard pressed to keep up with mitigation efforts. In 2009 there were at least 290 fires, up from 143 in 2008, burning about 1035 hectares of land.
Besides lowering the amount of water available, mining and other industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
activities release a large amount of hazardous chemicals and heavy metals such as chrome
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
, lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, and nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
into rivers and municipal sewage systems. These metals are known to cause cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
s and other neurological diseases
Neurological disorder
A neurological disorder is a disorder of the body's nervous system. Structural, biochemical or electrical abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord, or in the nerves leading to or from them, can result in symptoms such as paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures,...
. It is estimated that only between 5 and 15 percent of sewage
Sewage
Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains...
is actually treated, while the remainder is pumped raw into streams and the ocean itself. Solid industrial waste
Industrial waste
Industrial waste is a type of waste produced by industrial activity, such as that of factories, mills and mines. It has existed since the outset of the industrial revolution....
is often sent to landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
s where it is exposed to precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
and surface run-off. This ultimately ends up in streams, or worse, the groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
where drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
is obtained.
In 2000 an assessment determined that a one-time investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
of $1.4 million by the industrial firms would generate an annual savings of $1.9 million and a 32 percent reduction in pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
. The assessment showed that it is possible to reduce pollution and save money, if the companies are willing or if the government takes stronger action. It is unlikely companies will take this action their own since the Chilean government is severely lacking in environmental regulation enforcement. That it not to say that there are no incentives for companies to treat industrial wastewater
Industrial wastewater treatment
Industrial wastewater treatment covers the mechanisms and processes used to treat waters that have been contaminated in some way by anthropogenic industrial or commercial activities prior to its release into the environment or its re-use....
, however. The Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
water and sewage utility – a private company – imposes charges based on the concentration of industrial effluent
Effluent
Effluent is an outflowing of water or gas from a natural body of water, or from a human-made structure.Effluent is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as “wastewater - treated or untreated - that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall. Generally refers...
and places limits on the maximum amount of major pollutant
Pollutant
A pollutant is a waste material that pollutes air, water or soil, and is the cause of pollution.Three factors determine the severity of a pollutant: its chemical nature, its concentration and its persistence. Some pollutants are biodegradable and therefore will not persist in the environment in the...
s. It charges the companies a large amount if their waste levels are too high, a stronger incentive to reduce pollution. This demonstrates that companies are receptive to incentive
Incentive
In economics and sociology, an incentive is any factor that enables or motivates a particular course of action, or counts as a reason for preferring one choice to the alternatives. It is an expectation that encourages people to behave in a certain way...
s and penalties
Sanctions (law)
Sanctions are penalties or other means of enforcement used to provide incentives for obedience with the law, or with rules and regulations. Criminal sanctions can take the form of serious punishment, such as corporal or capital punishment, incarceration, or severe fines...
if they are implemented. If enough social pressure is put on the government perhaps legislation can be enacted to reduce the environmental impact
Environmental degradation
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife...
from major industries that have been given much leniency thus far.
External links
- http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17209:WATER-SHORTAGE-PREDICTED-FOR-NORTHERN-CHILE&catid=44:environmental&Itemid=40
- http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17867:chile-deals-with-increased-region-v-forest-fires-&catid=44:environmental&Itemid=40
- http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNACG619.pdf