Critical Analysis of Stakeholders in the Municipality of Tarija, Bolivia, in Search of Strategies for Adequate Water Governance to Implement Reverse Osmosis as an Alternative for Generating Safe Water for Its Inhabitants
Esteban Manuel Villena-Martínez,
Paola Andrea Alvizuri-Tintaya,
Vanesa Gladys Lo-Iacono-Ferreira,
Jaime Lora-García,
Juan Ignacio Torregrosa-López,
Lorena Sánchez Barrero,
Alejandra Leigue Fernández,
Paul D’Abzac
Affiliations
Esteban Manuel Villena-Martínez
Centro de Investigación de Ingeniería y Ciencias Exactas, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas e Infraestructura, Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”, Tarija, Bolivia
Paola Andrea Alvizuri-Tintaya
Centro de Investigación en Agua, Energía y Sostenibilidad, Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”, La Paz, Bolivia
Vanesa Gladys Lo-Iacono-Ferreira
Project Management, Innovation and Sustainability Research Center (PRINS), Alcoy Campus, Universitat Politècnica de València, Plaza Ferrándiz y Carbonell, s/n, E-03690 Alcoy, Spain
Jaime Lora-García
Research Institute for Industrial, Radiophysical and Environmental Safety (ISIRYM), Universitat Politècnica de València, Plaza Ferrándiz y Carbonell, s/n, E-03690 Alcoy, Spain
Juan Ignacio Torregrosa-López
Research Institute for Industrial, Radiophysical and Environmental Safety (ISIRYM), Universitat Politècnica de València, Plaza Ferrándiz y Carbonell, s/n, E-03690 Alcoy, Spain
Lorena Sánchez Barrero
Centro de Investigación de Ingeniería y Ciencias Exactas, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas e Infraestructura, Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”, Tarija, Bolivia
Alejandra Leigue Fernández
Centro de Investigación de Ingeniería y Ciencias Exactas, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas e Infraestructura, Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”, Tarija, Bolivia
Paul D’Abzac
Centro de Investigación de Ciencias Exactas e Ingeniería, Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”, Cochabamba, Bolivia
The accelerated deterioration of water quality in the city of Tarija, Bolivia, has caused several water sources in the Municipality of Tarija to be discontinued due to the presence of toxic contaminants. The current water purification systems that are used in Tarija do not guarantee the elimination of heavy metals; in addition, political and social interest conflicts are a serious problem in the execution of projects and new public investment alternatives, with these being the main problems found in the sector. Reverse osmosis (RO) water purification technologies are one of the most effective contemporary alternatives for the elimination of contaminants in water, such as heavy metals; however, their application and implementation in countries with little or no experience in this type of technology require acceptance and knowledge on behalf of the interested parties. Political and social conflicts between interested parties generate scenarios that affect hydrological planning. Analysis of the actors in the urban and municipal sphere of the city of Tarija, Bolivia, provides a case study for adequate water governance and enabled us to come to a consensus for the implementation of RO. The results show 23 fundamental actors in water management in the Municipality of Tarija, with local actors being those with the greatest influence and power in decision-making. Our analysis of social networks showed an important polarization in the power of decision makers, with municipalities and legislative entities being those that decide on public investments. The interested parties showed considerable interest in the application of RO as a technology that can provide definitive, short-term solutions to the problems of water stress and the water crisis in the Municipality of Tarija and its application in small towns with a high level of social and environmental vulnerability.
