Abstract

PERALTA MAHECHA, Gustavo et al. Hydric Shortage in the Colombia's City System: Environmental and Territorial Planning in the Magdalena-Cauca Hydrographic Area. Cuad. Geogr. Rev. Colomb. Geogr. [online]. 2021, vol.30, n.2, pp.459-480.  Epub Aug 27, 2021. ISSN 0121-215X.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rcdg.v30n2.88753.

The article describes the problem of water shortage in the city system located in the most susceptible areas of the Magdalena-Cauca Hydrographic Area (known as AHMC by its initials in Spanish). On one hand, this problem is dealt with from the conceptual perspective of water ecosystem services, both the hydrological and water use cycles, in relation to water supply and environmental planning. On the other hand, it is addressed from the use of water for human consumption and territorial planning. Based exclusively on secondary sources of information, water ecosystem services, water shortage, and water use in the city system located in the AHMC are described. Environmental planning in AHMC is also analysed, emphasizing the Hydrographic Basin Planning and Management Plan as a key environmental planning tool and its crucial relationship with the Territorial Master Plan. The latter Plan, as the fundamental territorial planning instrument, contributes reciprocally to the conservation and preservation of water ecosystem services in the AHMC city system.

Highlights: research article on the susceptibility to water shortages is focused on a few headwaters in the Colombian city system and on most small headwaters in the AHMC. From the normative perspective, the environmental and territorial ordering present a coherent and harmonious articulation; however, reality shows a lack of articulation, harmony, and concurrence.

Keywords : hydrological cycle; water use cycle; hydrographic basin; water shortage; environmental planning; territorial planning; ecosystem services; Colombia's city system.

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