The losses in productive activities and the total or partial deprivation of the drinking water supply in different regions of the country due to the El Niño phenomenon during the last dry season, apparently, made us all wake up.
Now both the national authorities and the affected people ensure that they have made a smart analysis of the impact that this natural phenomenon of climate change has caused and now the State is implementing measures to avoid that another crises happens again due to the lack of water during the season dry.
In September 2015, the Cabinet Council published resolution #84 of 11 August 2015 in the Official Gazette, which declared a state of emergency to deal with the adverse impact of the phenomenon during 2015-2016.
In addition, a Higher Level Committee on Water Security was created, consisting of 10 people, including ministers, directors, managers and secretaries.
Later, in January 2016, the Cabinet issued resolution #4 of 19 January 2016, which modified the previous resolution, which had stated a deadline to authorize hiring processes by the responsible entities to meet the emergency, and extended the authorization of these until June 30, 2016.
Even so, the negative impact that "El Niño" caused during the first months of this year was almost unavoidable and its effects left serious sequels.
The Secretary General of the Institute of Aqueducts and Sewage Systems (Idaan), César Berbey, divulged that this entity continues with the operation of drilling at the national level and improvement to the water intakes and purification plants.
Berbey expressed that users have no idea of what needs to be done to bring water to a community when a water intake or a well dries out and how difficult it is to get the vital liquid.
The Secretary said that measures are being taken at the national level because not only can we talk about the central provinces, where complaints were made due to El Niño phenomenon.
He recalled that in the dry season this year, the Seteganti River, in Darien, dried out; as well as the Cabra River, in the Panama City; and also Chame River; Cocoa River, Parita River and other aquifers.
For the first time, assured Berbey, it was necessary to drill wells in Volcan, Chiriqui, which allowed to bring water to the communities in the Highlands.
A total of 25 million balboas is available, as well.
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This financial resource, said Berbey, is being used for purchase of equipment, work and technical training.
The public servant admitted that the intensity of the national water-saving campaign has decreased, but they keep that goal by reinforcing the metering program.
"The best way to get to the user is by making them understand how much it will cost them to waste water, and that is why we are intensifying the programme," he added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) stands by its National Plan for Water Security (PNSH) "Water for all 2015-2050".
Yamil Sánchez, Director of Protection of Environmental Quality, said that among the plans contemplated is timely risk management related to water to prevent and be prepared for the changes in the climate and their effect on the availability and quality of the vital liquid.
Sanchez said that the “essential part of the PNSH is the governing bodies in the short, medium and long term investment run", which seeks to ensure water security in the country.
Preparedness has also been set up for fire events, evaluating its season, in the areas of Azuero, Chiriquí, Veraguas, Rio Hato and Darien.
Another initiative MiAmbiente is undertaking is the “Alliance for a Million Reforested Hectares”, which is a tripartite agreement of State foundation, constituted by the public sector entrepreneurs and community to protect forests, water sources and biodiversity.
According to Jesús Salazar, forecaster of Company of Electric Transmission S.A. (Etesa), there is no need to have a model of forecast to be able to know if the approaching dry season will be strong.
Salazar said that this season is being felt more forcefully, not so much because it is not raining these days, but because rivers are lowering their flow volume drastically, as a result of a weak rainy season, when the dry season arrives.
"There is a deficit of three of four years, and river basins have not fully recovered. We have a rainy season, today, which we may say is within the pattern; it is a lie that in one year these basins will recover", he explained. This is to say, when the next dry season arrives, rivers will not be fully recovered and their flows, therefore, will diminish.
