table of contents

Appendix:

Study of Information Resources on Water in El Salvador

Summary

Consultant: Herman Rosa Chávez

The goal of the study, which was conducted in support of the Rural Development learning circle of Conectándonos al Futuro, was to identify and evaluate the chief sources of information on water resources in El Salvador, in the context of the strategic importance of creating and utilizing this type of environmental information.

The rational management of water resources has become one of El Salvador’s chief concerns in terms of ensuring standards of living and sustained economic development. Such management is impossible without adequate stocks and appropriate organization of relevant information. However, very little knowledge about water has been systematized and organized in the form of useful information. The report classifies existing information resources on the subject, grouped from the standpoint of supply (watersheds, precipitation, water tables, and water quality), as well as demand (water supply, sanitation, and fishing resources). At the same time, the study stresses the importance of creating hydrometeorological and hydrogeological databases in order to calculate water balances, as well as a database of indicators for water management.

The study argues that the lack of coordination among the approximately 25 institutions with some impact on the water problem –particularly the three principal water users, ANDA, CEL and MAG– has led to a dispersion of authority to press for the generation and systematization of relevant information. Therefore, the study recommends that policies and legislation be designed to modernize and standardize the way institutions approach the issue.

Finally, the report presents a detailed set of guidelines for action in the area of national water information:

1. Take advantage of the imminent water reform as an opportunity to enhance knowledge about water.
2. Design a policy to promote investigation and knowledge of water resources.
3. National investment in the creation of water knowledge that is commensurate with the importance of this resource.
4. Update inventories of national water resources.
5. Increase the accessibility of useful information.
6. Promote informed participation on the part of information users.

Conectándonos al Futuro, San Salvador, El Salvador

Updated  25-06-1999

[Table of Contents]  [Executive Summary]  [Introduction]   [Chapter I Context]  [Chapter II Building]  [Education]  [Migration]  [Local Development]   [Rural Development]  [Micro-Small Enterprise]  [Learning Organizations]  [Infocenters]  [Government]   [Democracy & Citizenship]  [Business Competitiveness]  [Culture & Identity]  [Quality of Life]  [Conclusions]

Appendices: [Methodology]  [Project Implementation]  [Monitoring & Evaluation]   [Local Development]  [Migration]  [Rural Technology Transfer]  [Water Resources]  [Electronic Commerce]   [Public Information]  [Government ICTs]  [Evaluation of 3 Organizations]   [Electronic Conference]  [Participants]  [Bibliography]   [Glossary of Acronyms]

All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce all or part of this publication as long as the complete source is cited: Conectándonos al Futuro de El Salvador, "Strategy for Building a Learning Society", San Salvador, 1999, http://www.conectando.org.sv/English/Strategy/