Regularización legal del uso del acueducto La Esperanza RDP para el abastecimiento de agua cruda.

Abstract

The La Esperanza-RDP Aqueduct, one of the assets of the Pacific Refinery in Liquidation, which supplies raw water to eight cantons in the province of Manabí, lacks a legal framework that allows users of the system to compensate for the water transportation service through payment and obligations that the parties must assume. The company that operates it lacks the financial resources for the maintenance and operation of the Aqueduct. In addition, irregular/clandestine water intakes cause water crises during the dry summer months. The need to establish a contract for the provision of raw water transportation services arises, with the objective of providing economic sustainability to the operation of the La Esperanza RDP Aqueduct and constitutionally guaranteeing access to water to eight Manabí cantons, especially those that provide vital liquid for human consumption. To address this issue, qualitative research was used, which allows for an in-depth understanding of the legal, social, and operational aspects of the La Esperanza-RDP Aqueduct. Through analytical and documentary methods, it was possible to explore the legal loopholes, the social dynamics related to water use, and the underlying causes of the water crisis in the region. The proposed solution will allow for legal regularization, within the relevant legal regulations, of the La Esperanza RDP Aqueduct, which transports raw water and benefits users in the cantons of Bolívar, Junín, Tosagua, Portoviejo, Rocafuerte, Manta, Montecristi, and Jaramijó.