Water pollution is a world and local problem

(Caracas, March 2006).- Large cities have been affected by rapid and disordered urban-marginal settlement and by industrial growth without appropriate mechanisms of pollution prevention and control. In urban centers, most industrial waste is dumped untreated into the sewage system or directly into the nearest water courses. This process has intensified pollution in rivers, lakes and the sea.

Venezuela is no exception to this global problem. The singular characteristics of country-to-city migration have increased pressure on the deficit of basic services in urban and peripheral areas in the capital and large provincial cities. For this reason, the solving of these problems is left mainly to local governments.

Aware of these problems, Hidroven and CAF, through its Environment Office, organized a course on Sewage Management in Caracas from March 6-9. Invited Spanish experts discussed successful cases of sewage management and treatment policies with professionals and specialists from the public and private sectors. The speakers included national experts, especially Hidroven President Cristóbal Francisco who spoke on drinking water and sanitation problems in Venezuela.

This activity confirms CAF’s commitment to sustainable development through the generation and strengthening of knowledge, including better practices in sewage treatment, in an effort to achieve optimal social inclusion of the less favored sectors. With these initiatives, CAF also aims to stimulate possible solutions to the problems of pollution and improve the environment.