Falta de normativa rigurosa relativa a las descargas de aguas residuales en los recursos hídricos.

Abstract

Ecuador has an extensive water network that is being polluted by uncontrolled and untreated wastewater discharges; therefore, this research shows an analysis of the legal regulations related to wastewater discharges to water resources in Ecuador. For this purpose, a non-systematic bibliographic search of academic and non-academic databases of the current legislation was used, with the purpose of showing which are the deficiencies of these regulations. As a result of this study, it was determined that Ecuador does not have rigorous regulations, since the permissible limits of effluent discharges for the various activities are not established in a differentiated manner, the obligation of the type of treatment to be performed, the maintenance or operation of treatment plants and their control is not established, and also that the legal framework for wastewater discharges is outdated; in addition, it is identified that the penalties established are very low with respect to the damage caused by untreated effluents to the environment. Therefore, it is evident that there is no rigorous regulation that has the necessary guidelines for the prevention,control and sanctioning of wastewater discharges into water bodies.