Evaluación del proceso de implementación y cobro de tasas retributivas por vertimientos hídricos en el departamento de Antioquia

Abstract

Daily, domestic and industrial activities unload, into the bodies of water, substances of múltiple natures and diverse characteristics which produce harm to communities, to the ecosystems and alter production and consumption systems. As a solution to this problem, the economical instruments are expounded as a viable cost-effective solution to produce the decontamination longed for by the community at the least cost possible. In Colombian, the use of this kind of instruments is restated with Decree 901 of April, 1997, which regulates the use of the Retributive Rate.

This paper exposes the theoretical and legal foundation of the retributive rate as an economical interest to mitígate the problem of water contamination. Furthermore, it presents the experience of its application on an international level. On the other hand, it describes the process of implementation that has been put forwards in Colombia by the environmental entities, making an emphasis on the institutional developments required for the implementing of payment charges in the respective jurisdictions. Finally, a case study is expounded, taking the Regional Autonomous Corporation, CORNARE, in order to evalúate the environmental and the economical efficiency and the institutional strengthening accomplished after five years of applying the charge of Retributive Rates in the Oriente Antioqueño.