Proposal to reform the Water Law and address climate change

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would recognize drinking water and sanitation as human rights and guarantee everyone a minimum amount of clean water, even if they cannot pay for it.
2. It would change the focus of water planning: from building more infrastructure to protecting ecosystems, managing demand and applying the precautionary principle against droughts and floods, taking climate change scenarios into account.
3. It would reform the water concession system: terms would not exceed 25 years, concessions would be reviewed according to hydrological plans, and there would be no compensation for restrictions caused by ecological flows. It would also eliminate water transfer contracts.
4. When a hydroelectric concession ends, the authorities would have to study whether to dismantle the dam to improve the river's condition, with the dismantling cost paid by the concession holder. If operation continues, the new concession would last at most 4 or 20 years.
5. It would adjust water fees and charges: costs of services and new projects would have to be calculated and published, the polluter pays principle would apply, and cross-subsidies between different uses would be avoided.
6. It sets deadlines to apply the reform: a national audit of hydroelectric concessions within one year, sustainable groundwater exploitation plans within two years, and dam safety studies with experts chosen by the affected populations.

Who it affects

• Water users with concessions or permits (farming, industry, electricity): They would face shorter concessions, consumption controls and less right to compensation if their use is restricted.
• Hydroelectric companies: When their concessions expire they would pay for dismantling if ordered, and would pay a 25.5% charge on the energy produced.
• The general public: The right to drinking water and sanitation would be recognized, with a guaranteed minimum even for those who cannot pay.
• Public authorities (the State, autonomous communities, river basin bodies): They would have to integrate climate change and public participation into planning and approve plans within the set deadlines.
• Polluters and wastewater dischargers: They would pay discharge control charges and would have to prevent or restore the damage they cause.

Words worth knowing

Concesión (concession)

An administrative permit to privately use a public asset, such as water, for a limited time.

Dominio público hidráulico (public water domain)

Assets owned by the State, not by private parties: rivers, lakes, aquifers and their channels.

Directiva Marco del Agua (Water Framework Directive)

A 2000 European rule setting goals for protecting and sustainably managing water in the European Union.

Caudal ecológico (ecological flow)

The amount of water that must remain in a river to preserve its ecosystems.

Principio de quien contamina paga (polluter pays principle)

Whoever causes environmental damage must bear the costs of preventing or repairing it.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries