2. Water resource policy applied in Chile
The pressing need to halt the deterioration in the quality of life of the population, due to the destruction
of ecosystems caused by pollution from liquid industrial wastes and domestic sewage has led the authorities to
lay down policies for the monitoring and control of pollution from the urban and manufacturing sectors. Since
the 1990s, Chile has required sanitation companies to present development plans, and make the investments
necessary for the treatment of domestic sewage. As a result of this measure, the cover of sewage treatment has
increased from 20.9 per cent in the year 2000 to 55 per cent in the year 2003. This has been achieved by
granting concessions to the private sector for the supply of drinking water and sanitation; each of those
concessions is for a specific operational territory and is exclusive and for an indefinite period of time.