Although access to water in Latin America is generalized, distribution is highly variable and problems with water quality and sanitation have seriously increased over the last 30 years. This is the result of the region’s important industrial and agricultural development, which has not gone hand-in-hand with pertinent water quality and sanitation policies.

In order to address this issue, RALCEA, the Latin American Network of Knowledge Centres in the Water Sector, within the “Quality and Sanitation” line of action and in accordance with the assignment taken up at the Regional International Seminar held in Ispra in July, is designing an ambitious working plan to define the initiatives which this network will tackle, with the fundamental aim of helping to underpin public policy and capabilities with regard to specific water quality issues in Latin America.

This initial phase involves a call on all the Knowledge Centres and Focal Points (government representatives) to present proposals for the projects and issues to be prioritised and selected. The network will be responsible for setting up the working teams who are to implement each of the initiatives.

Fulfilment of this undertaking and the future development of initiatives addressing water quality and sanitation within the RALCEA Programme, managed by Directorate General for Development and Cooperation (DG DEVCO) and coordinated by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, represents a wonderful opportunity for greater proximity and cooperation among the knowledge centres and focal points dealing with these issues. According to the background data presented by each of the countries involved so far, the issues faced would seem to reveal many similarities and points in common, suggesting that the initiatives to be implemented will have a significant impact and regional influence.