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Integrated water resources management in Puerto Cortés

THIS IS A TRANSLATION - THE STORY WAS SUBMITTED IN SPANISH 

Please briefly describe your Water ChangeMaker journey

In 1993, with the arrival of Hurricane Gert, the already poor water supply system of Puerto Cortés was destroyed. The consequent water shortage that affected the region’s entire population during the months that followed led its authorities and inhabitants to push for reforms that would eventually lead to the decentralisation of water and sanitation services, as well as the initiation of programs to protect and restore the water-producing area. Initially, the central government was resistant to the proposed reforms. This led to the mayor being given 16 months to prove that Puerto Cortés was capable of efficiently managing its services. The then mayor (Dr Marlon Guillermo Lara Orellana) accepted the challenge and initiated an investment and development plan that yielded the required results in the trial period: he managed to increase water supply coverage by 7 percent, decrease management costs, and show improvements in the commercial and financial performance of the lending agency.

Please describe the change that your initiative created and how was it achieved

Decentralisation was completed in April 1997 when the National Congress finally ceded ownership of the infrastructure to the municipality, creating Aguas de Puerto Cortés (APC; Puerto Cortés Water Company), a mixed-capital commercial company and service provider. Since then, the services have been provided on a commercial basis, transferring the risk and real responsibility to an operator that is autonomous but also part-owned by the municipality. The administration's vision included the protection of the water source (the Tulián River) in order to maintain or improve the quality and quantity of the water and guarantee the sustainability of the service by first declaring it a protected area, then preparing the protection project and obtaining financing. Considering that the basin area covers three municipalities, it was necessary to draw up an agreement between the local governments for the implementation of the activities. Subsequently, management of the municipality's other water-producing areas – of which there are currently 13, each being protected and restored – was included. In addition, development of the sewerage and wastewater treatment system projects began in 2000, as did the construction of the municipal landfill, which began operating in 2005 when the open dump was closed. An environmental fund was created to ensure sustainability, with citizens contributing a percentage of the service fee for protection interventions and an environmental council that brings together all the actors involved, including civil society.

How did your initiative help build resilience to climate change?

The protection of water-producing areas, specifically reforestation and the establishment of agroforestry plantations, has generated carbon sinks, contributing to the mitigation of climate change. Approximately 2,000 hectares of forests and fruit trees are recovered and protected annually, including water-producing areas such as wetland ecosystems and urban areas. This contributes towards improving the microclimate, improving soil productivity by reducing erosion, and maintaining the quality and quantity of water available for public use. The region went from a state of water scarcity to 98 percent of the population having access to sufficient quantities of water, ensuring its quality, sustainability, and fair charges.

What water-related decisions did your initiative influence or improve?

  1. Seeking decentralisation for local operation and maintenance of the water and sanitation service.
  2. Creation of the APC, a mixed-capital commercial company and service provider. 
  3. Development of a project to protect and restore the basin; search for financing. 
  4. Inter-institutional coordination for protection; creation of the municipal environmental council that brings together all actors involved. 
  5. The formation of student committees, water management boards including women, and environmental committees in which citizens are involved. 
  6. The establishment of an environmental fund under the Payments for Ecosystem Services methodology, through which citizens contribute money according to their recorded water consumption as per the bill issued by the water company. Funds are transferred monthly to the municipal treasury for the implementation of management programs.
  7. The creation of an award for conservation initiatives.
  8. Transparency through providing regular reports on activities, revenues, and investments. 
  9. Joining the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy.

What were some of the challenges faced and how were they overcome?

The main challenges were the central government's refusal to decentralise the operation of the water supply system. The municipal authority managed to demonstrate that it had the capacity, quickly re-establishing the service and eventually expanding coverage. Another challenge was the establishment of a micro-measurement system, which was strongly opposed by the population who claimed that the devices would increase fees. A mass awareness-raising campaign was conducted and it demonstrated that the strategy benefited them by encouraging savings and fair charges. There were no opportunities as a local government to obtain financing for system improvements. International banks were responsible for managing loans that were later cancelled.  Coordination with the local governments of two municipalities as it is a transboundary basin.

In your view: Will the change that was created by your initiative continue?

The integrated management that has been established within all aspects of municipal administration will continue. This includes the municipal environmental policy, the municipal tax plan, the municipal development plan, the procedures manual, the annual operating plan, and the budget. All actors with related skills have been involved in the management processes and there has been a high degree of citizen participation. The creation of the water company and leasing contract that allows the rate to be reviewed and adjustments to be made over time. The establishment of the environmental protection fund.

What did you learn during the initiative or after? And is it possible that others could learn from you?

The following lessons were learned from the experience:

  • The best alternative when seeking solutions to environmental problems is the establishment of strategic alliances either with other local governments, central government institutions, international cooperation agencies, local actors or civil society organisations.
  • Better results are obtained by forming multidisciplinary technical teams to address the problems and implement priority actions.
  • Political will is key. When the municipal authority is committed to social welfare, it has the necessary persistence and determination to advocate for and achieve changes to meet objectives.
  •  Municipal administrative management projects must be internalised so that activities continue to be implemented when external funding stops, maintaining or improving the results achieved.