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.

Within the context of the EUROCLIMA and RALCEA programmes of the European Union and Latin America, a platform has been established for the exchange of knowledge and the generation of synergies among specialists belonging to a range of Latin American institutions dealing with hydrology and water resources.

RALCEA (the Latin American Network of Centres of Excellence in the Water Sector) is a bridge between institutional actors (Focal Points as liaisons and as representatives of governments) and Centres of Excellence for the development of processes to strengthen capabilities and knowledge for sustainable, equitable and efficient management of water resources.

The region of Latin America represents one of the most significant sources of renewable water in the world, accounting for some 30% of the global total. The spatial distribution of water resources, however, varies considerably across the continent.