Water security in Chile:
Characterization and future perspectives

Water security is conceptualized as the capacity to access sufficient quantity and quality to support human subsistence, health, and socioeconomic development. This definition encompasses the ecosystem-specific characteristics of each watershed and emphasizes resilience against environmental challenges such as drought, flooding, and contamination.

Achieving water security represents a multifaceted challenge that necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the climatic system, its regional manifestations, its intricate relationship with anthropogenic activities, and the implementation of robust governance frameworks adhering to the precautionary principle.

This report consolidates and synthesizes pertinent scientific evidence to substantiate evidence-based decision-making in this domain. Specifically, it examines the current water availability within the national context and projects water resource scenarios for the late 21st century under climate change conditions. It addresses the associated legal and governance considerations.

The document was officially launched on November 23, 2023, in the Gorbea Auditorium of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile.