1. Guatemala 2017-18 Water Management Country Status Factsheet
SDG Indicator 6.5.1: Degree of implementation of
integrated water resources management (0-100)
Guatemala
Target 6.5 By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
SDG implementation
Country Background (WB 2017)
Population: million
Area: 108,890 sq. km
Human Development Index rank/category: 127/Medium (UNDP 2017)
General overview: Water resources are abundant though pollution and unsustainable groundwater use are issues in certain areas. Hydropower is a critical element of the country’s energy mix. Institutional and regulatory challenges impact all aspects of water resources management.
Water Governance Background
National Institutions: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and others.
National Policy: National Water Policy (2011, pending government approval)
National Law: No overarching law, though multiple laws and regulations across sectors. National IWRM Plan: None current. (The 2010 K’atun National Development Plan contained a multi-annual sector plan for environment and water but is no longer being implemented due to change in government.)
Basin Management: There are basin authorities and management plans for four lake and river basins, though capacity is limited. There are draft guidelines for the development of basin management plans, and the formation of sub-basin committees is being promoted at the municipal level.
Aquifer Management: There are no aquifer management plans or instruments in the country.
IWRM dimension
Score (0-100)
Summary of implementation status
1. Enabling environment (policies, laws and plans)
Low: 28
At the national level, existing policies, laws and plans are either fragmented, do not reflect integrated approaches, or are stalled. Municipal level policies are more advanced, which use basins as the basis for management.
2. Institutions and Participation (institutional capacity, cross-sector coordination and stakeholder participation)
Low: 36
Responsibilities exist within various ministries, though there are technical and financial limitations. Intersectoral coordination is facilitated by technical committees. There is a good basis for stakeholder participation at national and local levels, but mechanisms need to be strengthened. Private sector participation needs to be strengthened for more efficient water use. Gender is addressed but with low budget and implementation.
3. Management Instruments (management and monitoring programmes, data & information sharing)
Low: 19
There has been some progress in management arrangements for ecosystems. But for other aspects, management instruments need significant strengthening, and institutional capacity development is required for all aspects.
4. Financing (budgeting and financing)
Low: 16
There is insufficient budget for investments and ongoing IWRM activities, with extremely limited revenue raising. Some municipalities are developing fees for environmental services.
IWRM implementation status (0-100)
Low: 25
Overall, many elements of water resources management appear to be constrained by the lack of policy, laws and plans at the national level.
IWRM Implementation
Very low
Low
Medium-low
Medium-high
High
Very high
Score range
0-10
11-30
31-50
51-70
71-90
91-100

2. Water Services Background (International Benchmarking Network IBNET)
Dam capacity per capita: 28 m3/cap (2015) (Aquastat)
Water connection coverage: No data
Sewerage connection coverage: No data
Revenue to operation cost revenue: No data
Non-Revenue Water (NRW): No data
Investment in water and sanitation with private sector participation: USD 7 mill. (2008 only)
Water Resources Background (source: Aquastat)
Water availability: 7,826 m3/cap/yr (2014)
Water withdrawal: 241 m3/cap/yr (2006)
Renewable Surface Water: ^9 m3/year (2014)
Renewable Groundwater: 34 10^9 m3/year (2014)
Envir. Flow Req. (EFR): 40 10^9 m3/year (2017)
Financing:
- The lack of regulatory framework hampers effective financing.
- There is an urgent need to develop institutional commitment, policy and operational IWRM plans to enable budget allocations at all levels.
Private sector: Participation is frequent concerning use of water resources for energy generation and large agricultural projects, but there are no known mechanisms to engage the private sector in more strategic or long-term water resources management.
SDG 6 indicators
Status
6.1.1 Access to safely managed drinking water
61% (2015)
6.2.1 Access to safely managed sanitation
67%1 (2015)
6.3.1 Proportion of wastewater safely treated
No data
6.3.2 Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
6.4.1 Water-use efficiency
12.9 USD/m3 (low) (2015)
6.4.2 Level of water stress (withdrawals / available freshwater resources)
4% (2014)
6.5.2 Proportion of transboundary basin area with operational water cooperation arrangements
6.6.1 Change in extent of water-related ecosystems
0.6% loss ( vs )
1 ’At least basic’ service only.
Sectoral use
% of total withdrawals1
Priority level2
Municipal (Domestic)
25%
Highest
Agriculture
57%
Medium
Industry
18%
Energy
High
Environment
EFR 31%
Low
1Aquastat 2006; 2UNEP 2012 IWRM status report
IWRM Implementation
Very low
Low
Medium-low
Medium-high
High
Very high
Potential priority areas, constraints and enablers
The lack of effective policy, plans and regulatory framework, particularly at the national level, appears to constrain many elements of water resources management, not least through a lack of financing and long-term capacity building.
Managements instruments for pollution control (including wastewater treatment), sustainable groundwater use, and sustainable and efficient water use all need urgent attention, but most first require more effective institutions and cross-sectoral coordination.
For more information and support
Including completed country questionnaires:
This factsheet has been produced by: UN Environment-DHI Centre
Financial support: Danida.