Bolivia Water Crisis 2000

Addressing a growing water crisis in bolivia like many countries bolivia faces a deepening water crisis that threatens to leave millions without secure safe drinking water.

Bolivia water crisis 2000. Cochabamba water war contributed major changes in bolivia s water sector. Cochabamba is a town of 800 000 situated high in the andes mountains of bolivia. It has also changed respective laws establishment of ministry of environment and water and the country as a whole. Bolivia is suffering its worst drought in 25 years.

The cochabamba water war was a series of protests that took place in cochabamba bolivia s fourth largest city between december 1999 and april 2000 in response to the privatization of the city s municipal water supply company semapa. La paz residents have been protesting over months long water shortages which they say should have been avoided. Two years ago a popular protest there turned into a deadly riot. The quality of service in the majority of the country s water and sanitation systems is low.

A level of risk and unpredictability that could be problematic in the context of today s worldwide financial crisis. The water war in cochabamba in 2000 was one of the most significant moments in the fight for the right to water in latin america. Using our sector leading water evaluation and planning weap tool sei helped the country plan for the future by creating the first ever comprehensive model of bolivia s rivers lakes and streams. Outside bolivia the water war helped to inspire a worldwide anti globalization movement and provided a model for water justice struggles throughout the americas and beyond.

In 2000 the pro privatisation law 2029 was revoked and rewritten as drinking water and sanitation services law 2066. In 2015 in bolivia 90 of the total population had access to improved water or 97 and 76 in urban and rural areas respectively regarding sanitation 50 of the total population had access to improved sanitation or 61 and 28 in urban and rural areas respectively. The americas feb 10th 2000 edition. The article notes that bechtel s revenues in 2000 exceeded 14 billion while bolivia s national budget is 2 7 billion.

Cochabamba the third largest city in. January 2000 rising water prices spark cochabamba protests. Water war in bolivia. The wave of demonstrations and police violence was described as a public uprising against water prices.

The tensions erupted when a new firm aguas del tunari. But bolivia has not solved its severe water problems yet and it is one of the most threatened countries by climate change.