Latin America; in English (pdf) - Transboundary Freshwater Dispute ...

Power and rail lines in Urabamba canyon, Peru. Photo credit: Keith M. Davis.
scientific knowledge of the aquifer, promoting
stakeholder participation, education, and
communication, and the development of
mitigation tactics for problem areas in the
basin (SG-Guarani 2005).
The quality of the water in the international
river basins of South America has been much like
that of other developing areas of the world. With
the modernization and industrialization of cities
and nations, more chemicals are being used for
both industry and agriculture, which, without the
proper control mechanisms, can contaminate
water resources. And, with only 79% of South
America’s population receiving basic sanitation
TABLE 3.1 BASIN STATISTICS.
LAND COVER POPULATION DISCHARGE
BASIN KM 2 % NUMBER % KM 3 %
Amazon 5,883,339 33 21,931,100 6 6,630 54
La Plata 2,954,187 17 59,143,000 16 736 6
Orinoco 927,431 5 10,201,300 3 986 8
Total 9,764,957 55 91,275,400 25 8,352 68
Rest of S.A. 8,053,043 45 273,716,600 75 3,894 32
Total S.A. 17,800,000 100 364,992,000 100 122,464 100
Note: S.A. = South America
Sources: TFDD 2004; Rand McNally 1996; PRB 2004; WRI 2003.
48 — Hydropolitical Vulnerability and Resilience along International Waters: Latin America and the Caribbean