DESAFÍOS Y TENSIONES EN LA GESTIÓN DEL RECURSO HÍDRICO: EL CASO DE LA ZONA ALTA DEL RÍO QUINDÍO

The current environmental crisis has led to water scarcity and ineffective water resource management.Objective: to analyze the challenges and tensions in water resource management in theupper basin of the Quindío River. Methodology: a comprehensive review of documentary sourceswas conducted, followed by field recognition in the upper basin of the Quindío River. Subsequently,direct dialogues were held to capture the perception of key informants regarding the situation.Results: the Quindío River sub-basin supplies approximately 300,000 inhabitants and is crucial forthe municipalities of Armenia, Calarcá, La Tebaida, and Salento. However, key informants revealedthat water management is affected by the expansion of agricultural frontiers and extractivismthrough monoculture, which negatively impacts the region’s biodiversity. Additionally, the politicizationof the region exacerbates these issues. Conclusions: the lack of strategic management forwater conservation in areas regulated by Law 99 of 1993 has compromised the protection of thebasin. Key informants identified problems in the provision of aqueduct and sewerage services,pointing out that the lack of institutional and political control over the water resource is one of themain causes of these issues.