Paraguay Water Issues: Analyses and Proposals

          *All work is my own, except as otherwise noted (references). Use without permission/credit is prohibited. -Joseph Albrecht

 

            As a developing nation, Paraguay has been faced with the common problems related to industrialization. Among the most important of these problems is the issue of clean water availability. Subject to droughts, pollution and mismanagement; Paraguay’s water supply faces serious challenges that must be adequately addressed. By engaging in resource management, local and international cooperation, along with technological improvements, Paraguay can have viable water sources for years to come.

  Indigenous people from the vast Paraguayan Chaco region, face water issues on a regular basis. With a lack of infrastructure for adequate water supply, they are forced to drink from a reservoir that is “…not fit to drink, but we drink it anyway. We have no other option; it’s not clean water, but it is water,” according to Neira Esquivel, an indigenous women from this region. Droughts are very common in this region; the area around the village of Karanda’y Puku village, home to 70 families, faced lack of rainfall for 7 months, leaving the reservoir dry and the reserve tank empty. As a result, Esquivel and others traveled to Paraguay’s capital, Asunción to voice their dire concerns (1). The Dry Chaco region in western Paraguay has seen the development of highly advanced rainwater harvesting systems, from the establishment of Mennonite colonies. Many of these systems are rectangular and associated with vehicle roads. They contain a large individual storage capacity, causing systems in western Paraguay to collect over half of all collected rainwater, despite representing only 24% of the entire region which includes central Argentina (2). The average rainwater storage capacity was 3.5 mm/year in western Paraguay, compared to Argentina (0.44 mm/year), although this still represents less than 1% of annual rainfall in the region. However, this may still have significant benefits at the local level, as a result of major water flux changes, specific to the harvesting systems (2). Through further research and physical applications efforts can be made to increase the efficiency of these systems while minimizing unintended ecological problems.

            Paraguay is an example of a country where the benefits of its development have not been equally obtained throughout all regions. The capital and largest city, Asunción, is the economic center of the nation, with no income tax for investors in bonds of Asunción stock exchange. This results in significant foreign investments into the region. These investments are highly protected as infrastructure and industrial developments occur on a large scale (3). Asunción houses Paraguay’s national government, main port and serves as the premier industrial and cultural center for the nation (3). Unfortunately, rural areas lack these attractive reasons for investment and therefore fall behind in many development categories. Many people in Paraguay’s semi-arid region lack even electricity and running water. Often times they subsist on local agriculture and must travel long hours to bring home water for their family. In some cases this water comes from a pond that is also used by animals, contributing to cases of diarrhea. Digno Bogarin, who lost one child to diarrhea, tells how difficult it is relying on dirty water without basic sanitation equipment. “Before, there were some people who taught us how to clean dirty water using chemicals. But now we can’t even afford the chemicals, so we just drink dirty water, and this makes us sick” (4). To improve these dangerous conditions, UNICEF has installed systems that collect rainwater from the rooftops in the wet season and funnel it through a pipe leading to a large covered well. A hand pump allows for easy access to this water whenever needed. UNICEF is working in cooperation with the government of Paraguay to expand this program to other areas (4).

            As a result of its vast river systems and hydraulic potential, Paraguay obtains 99.99% of its electricity from hydropower (5). Hydroelectric plants stand out as an example of a sustainable renewable energy source. Despite this, they are among the most-likely enterprises to be impacted by climate change. Furthermore, population and urban growth, land use and lack of planning/management of water resources compounds the increasing threat of water scarcity (5). Paraguay has faced these problems for decades. Inadequate planning, resource management, and funding have resulted in impaired developmental progress, compared to other nations in the region. As mentioned before, the poorest of the population suffer the most. Even when resources are available many simply cannot afford them; such as in Digno Bogarin’s case. The Itaipu hydroelectric plant, located in the Paraná river, at the border of Brazil and Paraguay. It provides around 17% of consumed energy in Brazil and about 75% of consumed energy in Paraguay. The Itaipu Treaty, signed April 26, 1973, stated that the two nations would each receive 50% of the energy produced, with recognized priority purchase in case of not utilized energy by any part. The distribution of royalties by Itaipu for the river’s water, covered in Annex C of the Treaty, states they will be paid equally between Brazil and Paraguay, with both countries already receiving over $4.5 billion since Itaipu energy trading began in March 1985 (5). While the original Treaty did not specify these royalties to be used for managing and preserving water resources, such an option can be beneficial. Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Mexico all have used money from hydroelectricity to finance various conservation programs (5). If Paraguay begins to divert more resources towards this goal, it can better prepare to handle the effects of climate change.

            International agreements, including loans, can go a long way in helping Paraguay obtain sustainable development. In February of this year, the Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Suleiman J Al-Herbish, signed a public sector loan agreement with Paraguay to improve electricity supply quality in its capital city, Asunción. OFID has had a relationship with Paraguay spanning nearly 4 decades, including over $168 million in funding for transportation, water, agriculture and other areas (6). These funds help Paraguay catch up with the industrialized world. With more financing of crucial industries, Paraguay can expand its energy, agricultural, transportation and other sectors. Additionally it can engage in sustainable resource management and conservation. The distribution of these funds should be assessed to ensure that they are being evenly dispersed throughout all regions of the country. This will help to decrease inequality, while furthering developmental progress.

            As with virtually all developing South American countries, Paraguay has experienced a vast amount of growth in its agricultural sector, especially with soybean cultivation. Soy production increased from 1.3 million hectares in 2000-2001 to 2 million hectares in 2007-2008. This has heightened concern about the changes associated with growing soy cultivation; including loss of biodiversity, deforestation, erosion, adverse impacts of agrochemicals and more (7). Paraguay’s Ministry of Agriculture passed Resolution 485/03, mandating a protected zone of 100 meters around all water bodies. This helps lessen the migration of pesticides to streams near agricultural areas (7). While this law is a good measure to reduce harmful ecological effects, it is not completely enforced. A study by Hunt, et. al involving 17 stream samples in Paraguay, found that only 8 adhered to this minimum buffer requirement (7). Furthermore, the banned pesticide, DDT, was frequently detected in Paraguay and certain insecticides, such as pyrethroids, were detected in stream sediments at levels likely to cause acute and chronic toxicity to aquatic invertebrates (7). Going forward, Paraguay will need to expand and strengthen its environmental protection laws, specifically as they regard to streams and other bodies of water. It may be helpful to establish agencies dedicated to enforcing these laws, with harsh penalties for violators. If this is achieved, Paraguay can serve as a model for developing nations committed to environmental sustainability, possibly increasing their chance of receiving international grants for this purpose.

            If Paraguay is to advance in a meaningful way, it must be willing to make major investments in infrastructure improvements. One area of critical concern is its wastewater treatment systems (WWTS) and waste stabilization ponds (WSP). These systems are responsible for processing the wastewater from urban areas, and many have significant ongoing problems. The WSP of the city of San Bernardino, for example is currently acting as a wetland, gradually filling up with sediments, water plants and trees. San Lorenzo’s WSP has witnessed structural degradation as early as 1985; and  in Villarrica and Coronel Oviedo, the concrete slabs of inner embankments collapsed (8). Most WWTS are severely under loaded, due to far less household connections than originally projected. Additionally, many have inadequate dilution capacity, causing high levels of algae and nutrients. Lack of planning for factors such as storm water inflow has caused systems in Villeta and San Pedro to collapse less than 1 year after being commissioned (8). To face these challenges, wastewater managers must review the history of these systems, and identify sustainable rehabilitation strategies. Other issues must be considered as well, such as a severe lack of state revenue, which is needed for proper operation and maintenance of these sanitation structures (8). Overall, a detailed review of cultural, social, economic and demographic influences is essential to understand current problems, as well as construct inclusive and enduring solutions.

            While Paraguay’s problems regarding water issues are complex, systemic and multi-faceted, they are by no means unsolvable. Paraguay must conduct an honest and independent review of its current development pattern, and form solutions based on this assessment. These solutions must be inclusive; reaching all cultural, demographic, economic and geographical regions. Legislative, economic, and technological ambitions must reflect the most-dire needs of Paraguay as a whole. Finally, Paraguay should be willing to reach out to the international community, especially its South American neighbors, to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements, such as loans and trade deals. If this is achieved, Paraguay will be able to improve its  inadequate water resources and leave desperation and inaction as a thing of the past.

References:

1.      “Paraguay: Clean Water Out of Reach for Native Peoples.” Inter Press Service. http://www.ipsnews.net/2010/06/paraguay-clean-water-out-of-reach-for-native-peoples/ Accessed 4/5/17.

2.      Rainwater harvesting in Dry Chaco: Regional distribution and local water balance. Journal of Arid Environments. Vol. 123: 93-102.

3.      “Asunción.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asunci%C3%B3n Accessed 4/6/17.

4.      “UNICEF-supported project brings year-round safe water to Paraguay’s semi-arid region.” UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/wash/paraguay_41776.html Accessed 4/6/17

5.      Lorenzon AS, Ribeiro CA, dos Santos A, et al. Itaipu royalties: The role of the hydroelectric sector in water resource management. Journal of Environmental Management. Vol. 187: 482-489. http://doi.org.webdb.plattsburgh.edu:2048/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.10.046 Accessed 4/21/17.

6.      “Paraguay and Sierra Leone Sign OFID Loan Agreements to Help Strengthen Energy and Water Supply Sectors.” Targeted News Service file:///C:/Users/joebas/Downloads/237399.pdf Accessed 4/24/17

7.      Hunt L, Bonetto C, Lydy M, et al. Insecticide concentrations in stream sediments of soy production regions of South America. Science Of The Total Environment [serial online]. March 15, 2016;547:114-124. Available from: GreenFILE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 27, 2017.

8.      Cuppens A, Smets I, Wyseure G. Identifying sustainable rehabilitation strategies for urban wastewater systems: A retrospective and interdisciplinary approach. Case study of Coronel Olviedo, Paraguay. Journal of Environmental Management. January 15, 2013; 114:423-432. https://doi-org.webdb.plattsburgh.edu:2443/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.10.040 Accessed 4/29/17.