Aportes profesionales a la Contraloría de Cundinamarca para la elaboración del informe anual del estado de los recursos naturales y del ambiente del departamento de Cundinamarca en la cuenca baja del río Bogotá para agua potable y saneamiento con vigencia 2022

Abstract

This paper addresses the management of water resources in the middle basin of the Río Bogotá from the perspective of the environmental fiscal control carried out by the Contraloría de Cundinamarca; in this context, the analyzed problem represents a critical area due to the high contamination of the ecosystem caused by human and industrial activities. Throughout the theoretical framework, key concepts such as integrated water resource management, current environmental regulations in Colombia, and sustainable development objectives related to access to clean water and sanitation are examined. It also explores the roles and responsibilities of territorial comptrollers in the oversight of investment in the protection of natural resources, providing a solid basis for understanding the importance of fiscal control in environmental protection. The results obtained during the investigation reveal important deficiencies in the infrastructure and management of drinking water and basic sanitation treatment plants. In addition, information gaps were identified in several municipalities, which makes it difficult to evaluate the real state of the aqueduct and sewerage systems. In addition, the analysis of water quality and discharge indicators in the prioritized municipalities shows that it is necessary to reinforce the wastewater treatment systems to mitigate their negative impact on the water bodies that discharge into the Río Bogotá. The internship at the Contraloría de Cundinamarca allowed applying knowledge acquired in the academic field to contribute to the preparation of the “Informe Anual del Estado de los Recursos Naturales y del Ambiente del Departamento de Cundinamarca” activity developed during the second semester of the year 2023 and which audited the management of the municipalities in the year 2022, applying the criteria of posteriority and selectivity that characterize fiscal control. This experience was essential to identify critical areas in the management of drinking water and basic sanitation in five municipalities in the middle basin of the Río Bogota and reflect the most urgent needs in terms of investment in infrastructure and design of stricter policies for wastewater treatment and improvement of the water supply service.