Magazine missie Colombia

WATER COOPERATION

COLOMBIA THE NETHERLANDS

Working together for a resilient future

A RESILIENT FUTURE FOR COLOMBIA SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WATER INNOVATIVE WATER SOLUTIONS WORKING TOGETHER

COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

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WATER COOPERATION

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Colombia – The Netherlands Working together for a resilient future

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Preface

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Creating water opportunities together

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Master Plan for the Cauca River

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Work ongoing in the Cauca Valley to preserve groundwater

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Comprehensive plan for the entire coast

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Canal del Dique Project

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Sustainable cities

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Flood Early Warning System

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National Modelling Centre

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River waterways

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Ports of the Future

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The sustainable growth of ports in Colombia

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Photo credits: Arcadis, Micha Werner, Claudia Schutte, Dirk Oomen, Javier Silva Herrera, Niels van Iperen, Deltares, STC-Group, Nereda, Brabant Water, URBANOS sustainable urban development Nijhuis Industries, MicroLAN, Bluerise, Solteq, Brabant Water, LG Sonic, Peter Prins, Holland House, NWP, iStock, Holland Luchtfoto.

‘Unique partnership’

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Innovative Water Solutions

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Project Bluerise

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For more information please contact: Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) Communications Department P.O. Box 82327 2508 EH The Hague The Netherlands

Water Operating Partnerships

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Buoys as algae fighters

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Water and food

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Building bridges

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‘All Dutch experts under one roof’

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‘Inspiring cooperation’

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Academic and Research Partnership

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Introducing twelve building blocks for an integrated approach

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Contact

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Published by the Netherlands Water Partnership for the Dutch Government (Partners for Water Programme), in cooperation with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Colombia. www.dutchwatersector.com/colombia http://colombia.nlembajada.org Content & Editing: Claudia Schutte (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), Anita de Wit (Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP)), Javier Silva Herrera Coordination: Anita de Wit (NWP) Concept & realization: Kris Kras context, content and design

T +31 (0)70 304 3700 E info@nwp.nl This publication was supported by the Partners for Water Programme.

Johnny Cay island: showcase for the new reversed osmosis technology 25

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

COLOMBIA AND THE NETHERLANDS: allied for success

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he Alianza Colombo Holandesa por el Agua (Colombian– Dutch Alliance for Water) is an example of international cooperation, that emerged from the harsh winter of 20102011 which led to billions of losses in Colombia.

The Dutch Embassy has also provided invaluable support in the institutional and technical structuring of the National Hydrological Modelling Centre, which will form part of the Colombian Institute for Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM).

The Alliance prioritized action in regions that were most affected by the floods, such as La Mojana and Canal del Dique, on the Atlantic Coast; the Savannah of Bogotá and the Cauca Valley.

In 2013, an agreement was signed with the Ministry of Transport which, in collaboration with DNP, gave the green light to create a master plan for river-based cargo and passenger transport, which aims to revive this mode of transport.

In this respect, DNP are working on a nationwide dredging plan for maritime port areas with support from the Dutch Ministries of Trade and Infrastructure & the Environment (Netherlands Enterprise Agency and Rijkswaterstaat). As such, an efficient management plan for this infrastructure will be developed as of next December.

Various recommendations were released in the document entitled “Misión de Reconocimiento de los Estragos de la Ola Invernal 2010-2011” (Mission to Acknowledge the Damage Caused by the 2010-2011 Rainy Season) and in turn, this document led to a Memorandum of Understanding, signed between the National Planning Department (DNP) and the Dutch Embassy.

In 2013, work on integrated water management and inter-modal transport was flagged as a top priority.

In order to complete these tasks, it will be necessary to extend the Alianza which, to date, has given Colombia the opportunity to work with the best worldwide experts in these fields.

In 2014, various projects were successfully completed. These projects included the hydraulic and hydrological modelling of the Magdalena River; the hazard and risk assessment for 11 municipalities in the La Mojana region; the implementation of an early-warning system to protect against floods; and adaptation to climate change in Colombia.

Other successful initiatives include a project to stabilise the dam in the Aguablanca District (Cauca Valley), the drawing up of the strategic plan for the Magdalena and Cauca macro-basin and the implementation of an early-warning operating system to protect against floods in the Bogotá and Cauca rivers.

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Simón Gaviria Muñoz Director of the National Planning Department / Departamento Nacional de Planeación (DNP) Colombia

WATER COOPERATION

SAFETY AND PROSPERITY – a common purpose

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ooperation between Colombia and the Netherlands in the water sector goes back over almost half a century. Water has to be managed wisely to improve health, reduce poverty and sustain economic development. People, livelihoods and infrastructure have to be protected against floods and rising sea levels. After the severe flooding in 2011, Colombia and the Netherlands started to work together more intensively, in the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding on Integrated Water Management. I am happy that we also cooperate on a multilateral level. This year at the Sendai International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, Colombia, the Netherlands and Japan jointly launched the idea of establishing an international Delta Coalition.

has developed into a relationship of equals, with more emphasis on trade and investment. Moreover, the integrated approach used in our water cooperation turned out to be interesting to other sectors as well. The investments in infrastructure projects, like air, sea and river ports, navigable rivers and intermodal transport, offer new opportunities to broaden our relationship and to create good conditions for Colombian and Dutch companies to do business. Besides, I think it is important to focus on sustainable urban development in view of increasing effects of climate change. The cooperation in these fields will undoubtedly benefit the experiences and successes achieved in the water sector.

On the governmental level we are establishing a sustainable relationship. At the same time Dutch companies, knowledge institutes and NGO’s are offering their experience and expertise, seek innovative solutions and team up with their counterparts in Colombia. This resulted in several projects on river basin management, flood risk management and early warning systems, coastal zone management, navigation and ports, drinking water and sanitation, irrigation and drainage and institutional development. This approach is characterized by an integrated and sustainable strategy, based on a long-term vision, multi governance, attention to communication with and participation by all stakeholders. I am pleased that this approach and typical Dutch water innovations like Room for the River and Building with Nature find their way in Colombia.

Since Colombia has experienced strong economic growth throughout the past decade, the Colombian-Dutch cooperation

Melanie Schultz van Haegen minister of Infrastructure and the Environment The Kingdom of the Netherlands

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

A RESILIENT FUTURE FOR COLOMBIA

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WATER COOPERATION

CREATING WATER OPPORTUNITIES TOGETHER At first glance you would not say that the Netherlands and Colombia have much in common.

Colombia lies on average 1000 meters above sea level, has a tropical climate and a population of 48 million on an area of 1,141,748 km². In contrast, one-third of the Netherlands is situated below sea level with its lowest point at -6.76 meters and is densely populated with 16.5 million inhabitants in an area of 41,528 km². Yet there are many similarities, especially in the field of water. Both countries depend on their ports and agricultural activities for their economic development, have an extensive river network and border largely to the sea. Climate change, including sea level rise, increased discharge of (rain)water, but also periods of drought and water quality are major challenges. This is a strong basis for cooperation.

INTEGRATED APPROACH The cooperation between Colombia and the Netherlands focuses on finding solutions based on an integrated approach. The Netherlands qualifies as a ‘delta’, an area where several rivers meet that flow into the sea. Living in this vulnerable and sometimes inhospitable environment creates certain challenges and requires specific solutions. Over the years, the Dutch learned how to live with water.

The constant threat of flooding laid the first foundations for our integrated water management approach: not only focusing on technical solutions but also on issues such as governance, finance and capacity building.

This is also how the ‘Dutch Delta Approach’ was created. This approach is a crystallization of certain key characteristics within our water expertise and culture that have evolved over millennia as a response to living in a challenging delta landscape. However, a great number of the challenges faced by deltas today are not solely limited to delta regions. The modularity and scalability of Dutch delta solutions give them relevance beyond the environs of the delta.

By balancing demands on natural resources, such as land, water and energy, we reduce our vulnerability to extremes and increase our adaptive capacity. This is an approach that is relevant across the urban and rural landscape. By building with nature, the Dutch succeeded in creating sustainable solutions for the preservation of their environment and subsequently the growth of their economy.

WORKING TOGETHER Since the severe flooding in 2011, Colombia and the Netherlands started to work together more intensively. By exchanging knowledge and expertise both countries can improve each other’s performances. Colombia and the Netherlands are both looking for ways to make their future more sustainable: developing resilient cities, making their ports sustainable, improving inland water transport, prevent the country against flooding and using the available water more efficiently. The Netherlands offers its experience on integrated water management. Always looking at the challenges in a broader perspective than water alone and with nature as our guide.

HAND IN HAND WITH NATURE More recent events of flooding in the Netherlands have led to a different perspective on our water management. Instead of fighting the water and building higher and hard defences, the mindset shifted to a more natural integrated approach to water. The Room for the River programme, giving literally more space to the river, is a famous example of combining flood protection, master landscaping and the improvement of environmental conditions. In our coastal areas, the idea of making better use of the services provided by nature, instead of constraining them, is what we call ‘Building with Nature’.

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A RIVER RE-BORN IN ALLIANCE WITH NATURE Building with Nature is the design of infrastructures in accordance with natural processes rather than acting against them. Created in the Netherlands by companies, government agencies and knowledge institutes, this idea, together with the concepts of Living with Water and Room for the River, forms the essence of a transcendental plan currently in progress in Colombia: the ‘Conservation Corridor and Sustainable Use of the River Cauca system’. The plan aims to give this river, of immense importance for the Valle Department, a second chance of life. As Maria Clemencia Sandoval, project coordinator from the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Valle del Cauca, CVC, explains: “With Dutch technical assistance led by Klaas de Groot, an engineer and representative of ARCADIS, we seek to recover eco-systems as wetlands, to strengthen river management and, as the main goal, to reduce flooding such as the ones that struck the region between 2010 and 2011. It is a long-term exercise and will form the basis of Organisation and Management schemes for the basins located in the upper valley of the river. The plan includes the construction of two dykes to protect Cali and the municipality of La Victoria.

Other challenges will be to overcome the problems of river drainage and recover its floodplains so that the natural flow of the river no longer poses a threat. Dutch expertise in inter-agency co-ordination and long-term planning has been instrumental in shaping this project.”

Klaas de Groot, senior advisor at design & consultancy firm ARCADIS, is the project leader from the Dutch team. Louis Bijlmakers is the cooperation manager at the Dutch water board Waterschap de Dommel. They talk about their experiences in Colombia.

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE CAUCA RIVER? Klaas: “It is an integrated plan which aims to limit the flood risk from the Cauca River and at the same time allows the river ecosystem to recover. The Master Plan will be ready by the end of September. It will act as a guide for measures to be taken in the coming fifty years. The plan is based on the Dutch three-level integrated approach, focusing on substantial, institutional and relational levels.”

Louis: “The Dutch water board Waterschap de Dommel is mostly involved on the institutional side: how do you organise water management in cooperation with responsible governments and all the other concerned parties? And then there is the main question: how do you sustainably manage the water infrastructure?”

WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACED IN THIS PROJECT? Klaas: “You need to know a lot about the physical system, the ecosystem and the socio-economic system. That’s basic knowledge.

Besides this, you have to deal with a range of different parties that are involved in the project. Who is responsible for what and which parties have to deal with the water? You don’t want to go against the interests of farmers or city dwellers. For example, the city of Cali is growing on both sides of the Cauca River. Given this situation, how can you make sure that there is enough room for the river so that it doesn’t flood when water levels are high?”

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MASTER PLAN for the Cauca River

WATER COOPERATION

The Netherlands and Colombia are faced with similar challenges when it comes to water management. In the aftermath of the floods, the Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos began to look for a suitable partner to help with this challenge, and he quickly found that the Netherlands was the best option. The Dutch programme Room for the River offers an innovative vision of water management. It reduces flood risks by creating room for the water instead of making rivers narrower by funnelling them through dikes which are becoming higher and higher. Not only that, the project also cooperates with stakeholders with whom it develops innovative solutions that make a positive contribution to nature, recreational activities and other areas.

WHY WAS THE NETHERLANDS CHOSEN AS A PARTY? Klaas: “The Dutch river basins and the area around the Cauca River are similar in many respects, so our years of experience with the Room for the River programme were a deciding factor. The programme has gained worldwide recognition, as we were able to successfully limit the risk of flooding using an integrated approach.”

Louis: “Due to its long history of water management, the Netherlands has built up years of experience in this area. In Colombia, water is managed mainly by volunteers and local initiatives, but these initiatives need to be professionalised in order to ensure that water is managed efficiently. Dutch water authorities can make their own contribution to this development by taking on the role of discussion partner.”

Klaas: “I hope that the work we have done in this project is testament to the expertise we have back in the Netherlands and will create opportunities to carry out similar projects for other areas. It would also be great if we have the chance to develop and implement parts of the Master Plan.”

WHAT CAN THE NETHERLANDS LEARN FROM COLOMBIA? Klaas: “Colombians are extremely driven. They know what they want and are prepared to work hard for it. Cooperation is crucial if goals are to be met, and that is reflected in the way in which they involve the different stakeholders in the project.”

Louis: “While the Dutch and Colombians are confronted with the same challenges, the situations are very different. In the Netherlands, we are looking to give more freedom to local initiatives, whereas in Colombia the government could take on a greater role. This is definitely an area where we can learn from each other.”

ROOM FOR THE RIVER In the Netherlands, Room for the River is a government design plan intended to address flood protection, master landscaping and the improvement of environmental conditions in the areas surrounding Holland’s rivers. The goal of the Dutch Room for the River Programme is to give the river more room to be able to manage higher water levels. At more than 30 locations, measures will be taken that give the river space to flood safely. Moreover, the measures will be designed in such a way that they improve the quality of the immediate surroundings. The Room for the River programme in the Netherlands will be completed by approximately 2016.

Room for the River is an innovative approach to integrated water management that can be applied world wide. www.ruimtevoorderivier.nl/english/

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WORK ONGOING IN THE CAUCA VALLEY TO PRESERVE GROUNDWATER With all its lakes and rivers, Colombia is very rich in water. But that is not all. The country has three times more groundwater than surface water. Despite such extraordinary wealth, Colombia still faces many challenges in ensuring its waters are managed carefully and rigorously.

Putting an end to this deficiency is precisely the objective of the ‘Evaluation of Groundwater in Extreme Weather Conditions in the Cauca Valley’ project, currently being undertaken by Corporación Autónoma Regional del Valle del Cauca (CVC), Deltares, and UNESCOIHE. “The objectives include increasing our knowledge of the hydrogeological system and improving the planning and management of groundwater resources”, said Sandra Teresa Escobar, an engineer and leader of the initiative. One of the more recent visits by Dutch experts was to Cali in February 2015 to run numerical modelling exercises and work out how deep wells are re-filling. The Caña de Azúcar Research Centre in Cenicaña also participated in the studies.

SUSTAINABLE USE OF AQUIFERS Escobar explained that CVC has a great deal of information about the aquifers in the Cauca Valley. Yet it still needs the know how to use that data to model, manage and plan water usage to make sure not to over-exploit the aquifers as the area undergoes the influence of climate change. At this point in time, the process of developing the mathematical tools is over 90 per cent complete. The idea is that, apart from ensuring proper management, the models will also allow for water resource extraction to be regulated.

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In the northern district of the Valle region, in the towns of Obando, La Victoria and Roldanillo, people suffer most from the lack of water in times of extreme drought or due to the influence of climatic events like El Niño, which brings a reduction in rainfall. This is precisely the area that has fewer aquifers. “That is why it is so important to identify what state they are in and how they should be properly used in the future to reassure the population, but also farmers who will increasingly need this precious resource”, said Escobar. The project also involves studying the stability of the wetlands, some of which depend on rivers but also on groundwater reserves. A study on this aspect is underway in the wetlands of El Cabezon (located in the town of Jamundi) and Timbique (within the Palmira municipal boundaries), which may suffer greatly if exploitation of the aquifers they depend on goes unchecked.

The work being done in the Cauca Valley will be a model to effectively shape new Land Organisation and Water Management schemes (POMCA’s) across Colombia and strengthen the National Groundwater Plan led by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development in the country’s 32 departments.

WATER COOPERATION

Masterplan Integrated Coastal Zone Management

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE COAST With two thirds of the Netherlands lying below sea level the Dutch know all about coastal protection. Together with the Colombian ministry of the Environment a masterplan will be developed to protect and maintain Colombia’s coast.

“The project just started”, explains project manager Jan van Overeem of ARCADIS. The Masterplan has to become a widely supported sustainable and integral long-term vision for the protection and development of the Colombian coastline. “Within the context of coastal erosion and climate-related sea level rise it is important to envision what measures should or could be taken to protect the Caribbean and Pacific Coast and the islands, now and in the future”, says Van Overeem.

MORE THAN PROTECTION “In the past measures taken to stop or mitigate coastal erosion were often not very effective. Sometimes even shifting a problem from one area to the other. That’s why an integrated approach is needed.” This Masterplan is though not only about identifying coastal protection measures, like building groins or nourish the coast with sand. “To be successful in implementation, one needs an integral structure in which the main parties make the right decisions regarding protection, management and maintenance of the coast.”

knowledge institutes. Together with them we analyse the social, economic causes of coastal erosion and disintegration, next to more systemic physical causes. With all that knowledge we will draft a list with urgent problems and the best possible solutions. Subsequently, three pilot projects will be identified to bring those solutions in practice. The principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Building with Nature will be leading in it.”

INSPIRING PILOT PROJECTS “Which projects these will be, is not clear yet. A possible pilot project could be for instance Ruta Nacional 90 between Barranquilla and Bogotá. It runs partially along the coast and in some places coastal erosion is a big problem. The coastal protection of the road that is of vital economic importance to Colombia, could be considered as a pilot. The ultimate goal of the three pilot projects is not only to solve local coastal problems but also to familiarize Colombian partners to work together in an integrated way and according to the philosophy of Building with Nature. It will be very inspiring and will create a lot of enthusiasm to work together as one team in this interesting masterplan”, expects Van Overeem.

STEP BY STEP The masterplan encompasses different subsequent steps. “The coming half year we will examine the 3,000 kilometre long coast.

Therefore we work closely with local and national stakeholders and

BUILDING WITH NATURE Worldwide, low-lying delta areas are increasingly confronted with challenges associated with urbanisation, economic development, shifts in the discharges of river systems, subsidence and climate change. At the same time, people increasingly realise that environmentally sustainable development is crucial to long-term survival. This demands an innovative approach, aligning the interests of economic development and care for the environment. Building with Nature instead of Building in Nature is widely supported within the Dutch water sector. The Building with Nature approach stands for integration of infrastructure, nature and society in new or alternative forms of engineering that meet the global need for intelligent and sustainable solutions. www.ecoshape.nl

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CANAL DEL DIQUE PROJECT

Following the severe floods caused by La Niña at the end of 2010, the urgent need to reinforce the Canal del Dique became the most important item on the agenda. Fondo Adaptación chose the Colombian infrastructure services company Gómez Cajiao and Royal HaskoningDHV as the consortia to provide advice on restoring and reinforcing the 400-year-old and 117-km-long Canal del Dique. What does this project mean for Colombia?

‘The project not only provides protection to the population who live along the Canal del Dique, but it also helps to create a sustainable living environment. It also gives an economic boost to the trade which passes through the docklands in the city of Cartagena,’ explains project leader Fortunato Carvajal of Royal HaskoningDHV. Carvajal speaks about Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), a unique method of working which takes account of all external factors in a project.

Carvajal explains: “Canal del Dique is an extremely important shipping route both in economic and social terms, and connects Cartagena Bay with the river Magdalena. However, the area around Canal del Dique has deteriorated over time. The canal was dug out in the seventeenth century and has been adjusted and widened many times since then. This process has created problems both for the environment and for the population. The last thirty years have seen developments in terms of planned improvements to the ecological system around the canal, but it was the effects of the flood that finally got the project under way.” It was clear that having a Dutch partner was essential to the project’s success, as the Netherlands has a large amount of expertise in the field of integrated water

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‘Creating a sustainable living environment’

management. Royal HaskoningDHV has also worked frequently in Colombia in years gone by.

RESTORING THE CANAL TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE The way in which this project used an integrated approach, taking into account the interests and needs of the population, nature and the economy, was unique for Colombia. “We want to restore the ecosystem to its original state so that we can improve the local environment for people and nature”, says Carvajal. “To achieve this, we have been in consultation with many local parties, such as districts and municipalities. The aim is to protect the population, to restore the ecosystem and also to give the region an economic boost. The shipping route is extremely important for the well-being of the local economy, so we need to make sure that it is properly

WATER COOPERATION

maintained. Ships using the canal route will now see locks and regulating installations. This is a first for Colombia. These will enable us to limit the amount of water and sediment flows in the canal so that we can make sure shipping activities can continue without any problems.”

SUSTAINABLE CITIES ALL FOR HEALTHY AND COMPETITIVE COLOMBIAN TOWNS

PEOPLE AND NATURE “Alongside the implementation of locks and regulating installations, improvements will be made to the current system of dykes. Encircling ring-dykes have been constructed around different villages, and part of the dyke along the canal has been reinforced. These measures aim to limit the flood damage as well as the risk of flooding. At the end of 2010, La Niña caused flooding over an area of 35,000 hectares, leaving many Colombians homeless. This must never happen again.”

The ideal model of development portrays cities that offer their residents a high quality of life in which environmental impacts are few but where there is also a government financially capable of maintaining economic growth. That is the idea that has led the

TIME PLANNING

Territorial Development Bank (Findeter), along

Royal HaskoningDHV has been working with different parties as part of this project, including the Dutch knowledge institute Deltares, in the field of flood early warning systems as well as hydrological and morphological modelling. Phase one of the design is essentially complete. The construction of the new locks, regulating installations and dykes is expected to begin in February 2016. The Canal del Dique is set to be ready by June 2018.

with the Inter-American Development Bank and the support of the Dutch government, to set up a programme to create sustainable and competitive cities which seeks to transform Colombian towns.

The concept of sustainability has just started to take hold in Colombia and only big cities like Bogota and Medellin have applied it by creating parks, cycle paths and other integrated transport services such as the TransMilenio or subway. So on this occasion, Findeter is attempting to focus its efforts to achieve healthier urban centres on small and mediumsized towns. Ten municipalities have been selected, including Pereira, Barranquilla, Pasto, Monteria, Cartagena and Villavicencio, for which design plans are underway. But specific projects are also taking place in Armenia, Bucaramanga and Manizales, where Dutch engineers, planners and architects (Urbanos, Witteveen+Bos, Berenschot, TUDelft, RVDB) are advising local authorities on ways of redistributing population in the centres to make way for new infrastructure projects such as efficient highways and transport systems, all within the project known as ‘Ciudat’.

In this case, Dutch experts are lending their support to local efforts to bring life back to towns facing numerous challenges but which, with time, will recover their development with schools, parks and greens, quality housing and mobility. As Juan Manuel Robledo, director of the Findeter Centre for Urban Intervention, explained, these plans are

Manizales

achieved through partnerships between the public and private sector.

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FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

As a result of climate change, Colombia has to deal with heavy rainfall and severe storms on a more regular basis. To help ease this problem, hydrologists can use the flood forecasting system Delft-FEWS (Flood Early Warning System), developed by the Dutch knowledge institute Deltares, to predict the level and drainage of water. In cooperation with UNESCO-IHE, Deltares travelled to Colombia to educate local hydrologists of IDEAM, CVC and CAR to use the system.

“Delft-FEWS is received enthusiastically by the Colombians. In the aftermath of the floods of 2010 and 2011, the urgency to set up an integral water management system became much clearer. DelftFEWS can be implemented flexibly, as you can connect existing sources of data and hydrological models to the system. This is the first time that national and regional institutions in Colombia are sharing their real-time water statistics. Thanks to this development, IDEAM is now better able to release timely warnings than it was during the floods in 2010 and 2011,” explains Otto de Keizer from Deltares. The project involved the river Cauca and Bogota and a part of the Magdalena river.

Quicker and better information Thanks to Delft-FEWS, Colombian hydrologists can carry out daily operational predictions. The biggest advantage of this is that information is available directly, which means there is more time to implement measures or to warn people about coming floods. Not only has the cooperation between Deltares, IDEAM and IHE provided a basis for a completely national forecasting system, it has also improved the institutional process for hydrological forecasting and timely warnings.

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‘National and regional institutions are sharing realtime water statistics’

WATER COOPERATION

NATIONAL MODELLING CENTRE

As a result of La Niña (2010 – 2011) Colombia faced losses of more than US$ 4 billion. This weather change phenomenon unleashed huge rainfalls that in turn led to flash floods destroying roads and washing away crops. This tragedy made the country start thinking about creating a National Modelling Centre that would enable Colombia to monitor and predict the behaviour of rivers and thus prevent further disasters.

In order to consolidate the idea of such a centre, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) received support from the Netherlands, specifically from the Deltares Institute. Their technicians worked hand

‘A Centre for taming rivers and anticipating disasters’

in hand with Omar Franco, director general of IDEAM, who explained that the Modelling Centre provides the means of ascertaining specific details that range from where to build a dam or a bridge up to perfecting decisions about land management. “Because we can anticipate a flood, we can understand the scope of a watercourse and the potential implications on the population of a sudden rise in water levels”, he said. The National Modelling Centre is included in the 2014-2018 National Development Plan and will be supported by the Dutch.

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SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WATER 16

WATER COOPERATION

RIVER WATERWAYS

THE LINK BETWEEN COLOMBIA AND CONSOLIDATED PROGRESS

Colombia has built its industrial areas a long way from its ports.

But the way the world is moving today has shown the country that it is time to make changes. The first steps to achieve that were taken in 2013, when the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Colombia, Robert van Embden, signed an agreement between the Dutch government and the Colombian Ministry of Transport to create a River Masterplan, designed to recover inland shipping along our river network across the country.

Therefore, the goal is not to make just the River Magdalena navigable but also, in the first stage, to enable shipping along the River Meta between Puerto López and Puerto Carreño; the River Putumayo between Puerto Asís and Leticia; the River Guaviare between San José and Puerto Inirida; and the River Vaupés from Calamar to Mitú, as Deputy Minister for Infrastructures, Ivan Martinez, explained. This will be backed by different modes of transport along the rivers to provide inter-connections.

This scheme, which forms part of the ‘Dutch-Colombian Alliance for Water’, represents a significant contribution to the roadmap of Intermodal Transport, one of the priorities of the 2014-2018 National Development Plan. The aim is to reduce costs and achieve more efficient movement of freight, which today mainly takes place overland through Colombia’s complex geography. The objective is that goods and merchandise can be extensively distributed using rivers, airports, river ports and high-capacity roads, all at the same time and with equal efficiency.

DUTCH ADVICE ESSENTIAL

CURRENT SITUATION The current situation is by no means ideal. According to the Colombian Chamber of Infrastructure, only 1.5% of Colombia’s freight is transported under a multimodal scheme, a very low figure compared to the 60 per cent rate achieved by European countries.

Freight accounts for 35 per cent of the cost of exported goods, when in the rest of the world, that figure stands at just 6 per cent. Today, transporting a container from Bogota to our national ports costs $ 2,200, whereas shipping it from there to China costs only $ 1,000.

“This is a priority project. At present, we are at the assessment stage, in which Dutch advice has been and will continue to be essential, given their expertise in hydraulics and dredging. We will soon move onto the economic phase and consider strategies for funding the scheme, either by means of concessions or tolls”, Martinez added.

According to Dutch technicians, if transport systems and links between production areas and river ports improve, the competitiveness of goods manufactured in Colombia will also improve - a tandem that is both notorious and priority in the Netherlands. And a better transportation system will lead to an increase in exports, “and if exports increase, industrial output rises, as do procurement, supply chains and people’s quality of life”, said Martinez.

Our waterways are thus set to become, within the short term, one of the main links between Colombia and consolidated progress.

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PORTS OF THE FUTURE Ongoing trends such as global trade growth, increasing vessel sizes and the need to modernise port facilities are driving investments in ports. Not keeping up will mean loss of trade and competitive position. However, port development negatively impacts our rivers and coastal and delta ecosystems. Yet, port projects too are confronted with a growing scarcity of prime locations and the uncertain impacts of climate change. Clearly, there is a need for innovative solutions for port development that is in harmony with the ecosystem and that is robust or adaptable under change.

IMPACT OF PORT DEVELOPMENT

AN INTEGRATED AND TAILOR-MADE APPROACH

Harbours have traditionally been built in areas where the sea and rivers meet. These areas are also known as estuaries or deltas.

The advantage of transporting via these areas is that goods can be easily moved inland. However, the disadvantage is that the sea and river brings in a large amounts of sediment which sink in this area of slow currents. This means a large amount of money has to be spent on dredging for the harbour to remain accessible.

While constructing a harbour disrupts natural processes such as the distribution of sand along the coast, it also impacts valuable and unique ecosystems which provide shelter and food for fish and a variety of birds. The local ecosystem is put under pressure, and then so are the people who live and work there. For instance, this could entail decreasing catches for fishermen, a less healthy living environment and coastal erosion, meaning houses and infrastructure are threatened by floods.

Ports of the Future will use an integrated approach. A harbour is not a stand-alone unit; it is part of a city where people work and live.

The harbour needs connections to the hinterland in order to deliver and ship goods. The Port of the Future optimises the economic, environmental and social benefits of ports. This includes connecting waterways, hinterland connections, surrounding cities and adjacent coastlines.

Every port is different. Every harbour location has its own requirements and every port authority its own specific desires. The Port of the Future concept will be applicable worldwide, and requires a tailor-made solution for every specific situation. That is why every port development plan has to be created in close collaboration with all stakeholders. Integrating these stakeholders and uniting efforts can result in creative and solutions that benefit everyone.

WORKING WITH NATURE LOCATION OF THE PORT DECISIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Rapid economic growth combined with an increasing lack of space and urgency to reduce the negative effects of our societies have led us to think about sustainable solutions for harbour development.

The Dutch companies APM Terminals, Boskalis, Port of Rotterdam and Royal HaskoningDHV, as well as knowledge institutes such as Deltares, IMARES Wageningen UR (WUR-IMARES), IVM Institute for Environmental Studies, Delft University of Technology and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have developed the concept Ports of the Future. When selecting the location of the harbour, which is ideally not in the estuaries, the features of the local ecosystem are taken into account. The basis of this decision is to have as little impact as possible on the natural surroundings and processes.

The aim is to work with nature, which will also help to reduce maintenance costs, and above all to use an integrated approach to look for innovative and durable solutions that are sustainable for both the economy and environment.

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Constructing these harbours will probably be a costly undertaking at the beginning, but after time this investment will pay itself back.

Harbours will not need to carry out as much dredging to remove the sediment. This will mean maintenance costs are kept low. Working with nature rather than fighting against it is both cost-efficient and better for humanity and for nature in the long run. For example, coral reefs, oyster beds and mangrove forests can help to preserve natural coastal defences. Not only that, working with nature means waterways maintain a constant depth, since there are no hard concrete waterworks in or around the river such as breakwaters, groins or the harbour itself. All of this is also made possible by great leaps forward in harbour technology, such as innovative techniques for loading and unloading cargo and environmentallyfriendly dynamic traffic management. It is the assessment of the environmental impacts and location in combination with existing and future multi-modal technologies that will make the difference. It will become the base for well-informed strategic decisions towards sustainable Ports of the Future.

Artist impression of harbour development business as usual

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WATER COOPERATION

Desired situation

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

THE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF PORTS IN COLOMBIA

Colombia is booming. The economic activity in and around the ports of Colombia is increasing exponentially. An increasing number of vessels is docking at deep-sea ports and more international industrial companies are being established at the ports of Barranquilla and Cartagena. This growth results in the increased pressure on the environment and the surroundings. Is it possible for economic growth to go hand in hand with a safe, healthy and sustainable living environment?

FORTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE This is the perfect question to ask Roel van de Loo, a project leader at DCMR Milieudienst Rijnmond. DCMR provides the environmental protection services for one of the most densely built-up and busiest industrial areas in the world, Rotterdam, where the largest port in Europe forms an important link in the petrochemical industry.

‘DCMR is a cooperative venture among fifteen municipalities and the province of South Holland and has more than forty years of experience in environmental services. We have requests from around the world to advise on the sustainable development of port areas.’

Van de Loo has been actively involved in projects at ports in South Africa, Oman and Kuwait. ‘Governments are aware that we have decades of experience in the sustainable development of port areas.

You might even say that they profit from the fact that we have already made all the mistakes for them in the past.’

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ONE STOP SHOP How can DCMR help Cartagena and Barranquilla in the sustainable development of their port areas? The first step of the plan is to create a pilot inter-governmental partnership in cooperation with our Colombian partners called the Cartagena/Barranquilla Environment and Safety Protection Agency (C/BESPA). ‘This will be a one stop shop environmental service for the port area. C/BESPA will coordinate all the safety and environmental regulations of the Colombian permit authorities.’ This will ensure that the issuing of permits is faster and more efficient without the need to adjust any laws or regulations.’

COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL EXPERTS Once C/BESPA is fully functional, the Best Available Techniques institute (BAT) will implement permits to ensure that more stringent safety and environmental precautions are taken and that the sustainable development of the port is supported. An inspection programme for port companies will also be implemented. C/BESPA will also be responsible for a complete listing of environmental and safety issues. ‘This is done in close cooperation with Colombian knowledge institutes and universities. After all, they have the best understanding of the local circumstances.’

WATER COOPERATION

Center of Excellence in ports, transport and logistics

‘UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP’ The growth of ports in Latin America means that Colombia is faced with the challenge of finding enough highly-educated professionals to work in the logistics, transport and port industries. Universidad del Norte, one of the top universities in Colombia, and the Dutch educational and knowledge institute for shipping, transport and the port industry, STC-Group, have made a significant contribution to this goal by setting up the Center of Excellence, a non-profit joint venture.

interest has produced concrete results, as the institute recently ran courses to train 45 barge inspectors for the Colombian Ministry of Transport. It also ran a programme for a group of participants from the Chamber of Commerce in Cartagena. “Because participants can follow all relevant educational programmes at the institute, they get real added value. Participants also appreciate the flexibility of our service. While we operate from Barranquilla, we provide educational programmes throughout Colombia.”

The partnership was established in 2014 with help from the Dutch government. Since then, fifteen academic programmes have been developed. “Our work is geared towards organisations which operate on a practical, tactical and strategic level. We provide technical assistance alongside our programmes”, explains Silvina Pereira Marques, South America Area Manager at STC-Group.

STC-Group is globally active thanks to its branches and joint ventures in South Africa, Vietnam, the Philippines, Oman, Brazil and Mozambique.

UNIQUE IN LATIN AMERICA

AN INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK The Center of Excellence is also internationally focused thanks to world-renowned guest speakers and professors. The programme is run in two languages, and in the meantime there has been a lot of interest in the programmes at the Center of Excellence. This

The Center of Excellence is unique in Latin America and has received a lot of interest from neighbouring countries. “We will soon offer a programme for managers in Nicaragua and Guatemala. The Ministry of Education of Chile (MINEDUC) has also shown interest in the programmes.”

A DYNAMIC ALLIANCE Silvina explains how the cooperation between Universidad del Norte and STC-Group strengthens both organisations. “STC-Group is very familiar with international educational requirements, and for years now has built up a track record in educating qualified staff for the port, transport and logistics industries. Universidad del Norte can provide in-house academic and local knowledge. This makes the Center of Excellence a unique alliance.”

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

INNOVATIVE WATER SOLUTIONS

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WATER COOPERATION

< TREATING WASTEWATER THE NATURAL WAY Nereda is a successful, innovative and sustainable Dutch technology for treating wastewater in a natural way. How does it work? Nereda treats wastewater with the unique features of so-called aerobic granular biomass: purifying bacteria that create compact granules with superb settling properties. Main results: cost-effective plants with a four times smaller footprint, up to fifty percent energy savings, no/minimal waste generating chemicals and excellent effluent quality. www.nereda.net

WASTE OR ENERGY? > Wastewater is valuable. Nijhuis Industries invents solutions for the purification of wastewater to regain valuable raw materials and make them available for sustainable reuse. Also, it is possible to produce energy from waste water in the form of biogas or electricity. In 2015 the first Nijhuis flocculation/flotation system in Colombia will be installed on the nation’s largest crude oilfield, Campo Rubiales in Western Colombia, where roughly twenty percent of the nation’s daily oil is produced. www.nijhuisindustries.com

< MONITORING TOXICITY How do you measure the toxicity of water continuously and fast? MicroLAN developed the iTOXcontrol bio-monitor. This early warning system signals sudden peak values of chemicals and other toxic pollutions by taking samples. In any event or breakdown it is possible to act within minutes, compared to routinely measured parameters that take hours or sometimes days to signal sudden changes in the water quality. Due to the swift warning by iTOXcontrol, potential damage is limited. In addition, iTOXcontrol makes it possible to restrict the pollution to a small section of the drinking water distribution network. www.microlan.nl

USING THE POWER OF THE SUN > The surface water in Colombia contains high concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons. In addition, chlorine is used in the production of drinking water. Also, drinking water treatment plants have no barrier against chlorine resistant pathogens, like Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

By applying the long-established technology of UV desinfection – first used in 1910 – these two problems are solved. UV does not produce chlorinated hydrocarbons and is an outstanding barrier against Cryptosporidium and Giardia. And: on the long term the costs of UV desinfection will be lower than the cost for safe storage and dosage of chlorine. www.bersonuv.com

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

PROJECT BLUERISE The island of San Andrés currently produces its electricity with the use of expensive diesel and polluting generators, even though the island is abundant in potential clean energy sources.

Energy generated by seawater! In cooperation with Universidad Nacional de Colombia, the company Bluerise investigated the feasibility of an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and Seawater Air Conditioning (SWAC), and found a positive outcome. These innovative technologies have the potential to completely transform the energy system of San Andrés to clean renewable energy and to reduce over 20% of the total electricity demand on the island.

CORALINA, the authority which is responsible for sustainable development on the island of San Andrés, recently visited the demonstration put on by OTEC at Bluerise in the Dutch city of Delft.

Diego Acevedo, VP of Business Development at Bluerise, says, “They were really impressed by what they saw and were eager to implement the technology. San Andrés has a huge amount of potential, as the island is ideally located in economic and geographic terms. Energy prices on the island are extremely high. With deep sea areas very close to the coast, why would you not use nature to produce energy?”

How does it work exactly?

Ocean Thermal Energy technologies like OTEC and SWAC make use of the temperature differences in the tropical ocean between the warm surface, which is 28 °C, and the cold, with temperatures between 4 °C to 6 °C, from a depth of 800 to 1000 metres. This OTEC technology uses the temperature difference to drive a heat engine which produces electricity. The SWAC technology uses the cold deep seawater directly to replace standard mechanically driven air conditioners, saving up to 90% of the energy required for cooling. The deep ocean water is obtained by means of a large 1000-meter-deep pipe and can be used subsequently to develop a multitude of other sustainable industries.

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‘This is a great opportunity for both San Andrés and for Colombia’

WATER COOPERATION

‘If it works here, it can work anywhere’

JOHNNY CAY ISLAND: SHOWCASE FOR THE NEW REVERSED OSMOSIS TECHNOLOGY How do you produce drinking water on an ‘uninhabited’ island which hosts 350,000 tourists annually but has no electricity or energy infrastructure? CORALINA, the authority responsible for sustainable development on Johnny Cay island, worked in cooperation with Holland Colombia Water Partnership to tackle this challenge. Thanks to financing from the Netherlands, the Dutch company Solteq Energy developed an innovative and sustainable solution in the form of a new type of hydraulic wind turbine combined with a reversed osmosis technique which produces drinking water from sea water. A Colombian delegation recently had a foretaste of the technology during a visit to the Dutch city of Leeuwarden, where the prototype was tested.

The small island of Johnny Cay, a nature reserve approximately the size of three football fields, is located very close to San Andrés. “If this system can be installed on Johnny Cay, it can be installed anywhere,” says Herre Rost van Tonningen from Solteq Energy. “We want to provide an example here of how you can produce energy and drinking water sustainably. This solution is also of particular interest to other areas that experience a lot of windy weather such as La Guajira department.”

Watch and learn In recent years, some services such as a kiosk and dry toilet have been made available for the 350,000 tourists who visit the island annually. This created a large requirement for electricity and drinking water. CORALINA also wants to use the project to work on raising awareness of environmental issues.

Rost van Tonningen explains, “The ultimate goal is to put up informational boards about this project and open an educational centre in which visitors can see all the possibilities of hydropower.”

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

WATER OPERATING PARTNERSHIPS Knowledge and expertise for sustainable and reliable supply of drinking water in the long term. This is what has joined Colombia and the Netherlands. The Dutch public drinking water company Brabant Water, which is responsible for the water supply in the Dutch province of Brabant, is cooperating with Acuavalle, Aguas del Magdalena and Fundación Cerrejón del Agua to share its knowledge of water supply and to introduce innovative water purification technology. How can we make sure that Colombians can more readily access clean drinking water?

“One of the biggest challenges for Acuavalle is in reducing its use of chlorine. Once it does this, it can improve the water quality. Less chlorine use can be achieved by protecting water sources, using durable purification techniques and implementing a closed distribution system.

For instance, Acuavalle could utilise innovative purification technologies such as UVGI disinfection methods”, explains Tico Michels, manager of the Internationalisation programme at Brabant Water. This integrated approach additionally provides an average low percentage 5.5% - of non revenue water.

Brabant Water is providing advice to Aguas del Magdalena in terms of organisational structures, which includes advice on setting up an organisation responsible for the management and maintenance of drinking and waste water.

Through these cooperation agreements, Brabant Water will be able to share its knowledge of the integrated approach used in the Netherlands, as well as decide with Colombian partners an approach which is geared towards local needs.

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COMBATTING THIRST IN LA GUAJIRA Thirst has taken its toll on La Guajira. In 2013, 23 children died from lack of water. And last year, the number of deaths totalled 15, according to the local Ombudsman. There, people have to walk for hours to fetch water from archaic wells. That is why Dutch companies such as Brabant Water, at the request of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, have begun working through the Cerrejón Foundation for water to seek a solution. The various alternatives for obtaining drinking water and thus mitigating the crisis include desalinating sea water, using both infrastructure that already exists in the area and a Dutch-designed wind turbine which is currently being tested on Johnny Cay, an island in the San Andres and Providencia archipelago. In the case of La Guajira, these efforts will initially be focused on the town of Media Luna and its 1,600 inhabitants, explains Raul Roys Garzon, executive director of the Cerrejón Foundation, who signed the Memorandum of Agreement with the Dutch government to implement this plan.

WATER COOPERATION

BUOYS AS ALGAE FIGHTERS LG SONIC AND EMPRESAS PÚBLICAS DE MEDELLÍN (EPM)

The Embalse la Fe, a reservoir which supplies drinking water to 250,000 Colombians, is plagued by large growths of algae. This incurs extra expenses related to purifying the water and removing the unpleasant odours. The Dutch company LG Sonic implemented a cost-efficient and sustainable solution to combat this.

More sustainable treatment The Embalse la Fe is located in the Antioquia department. ‘In 2012, there were already reports of rapid algal growth in the reservoir. The owners initially wanted to use chemical means to remove the algae,’ explains Falco Aguilar, the key account manager at LG Sonic. He managed to convince stakeholders at Empresas Públicas de Medellín, the largest utility company in Colombia, to implement sonic wave technology as a sustainable solution to

This technology has dramatically improved the

combat algal growth.

quality of the water in the Embalse la Fe. ‘The water is now so clean that the department and

Bursting air bubbles

its stakeholders are using the water in and

Algae ‘commute’ between the water layers. They

around the reservoir for use in recreational and

regularly travel on air bubbles to the surface of

tourist activities. EPM has made its name as an

the water, where they collect sunlight and gather

innovative and sustainable player in the sector.

essential nutrients. ‘Being able to travel between

They are receiving requests from interested

deeper and shallower depths is crucial for the

parties throughout Latin America. This is a

survival of the algae. The sonic waves burst the air

solution of which Colombia can be proud of.’

bubbles, meaning the algae slowly die off because they cannot travel between water layers.’

Unique solution ‘What makes our solution unique is that the ‘buoys’ which we use to emit the sonic waves practically run by themselves. Not only do they use their own sensors to constantly monitor the state of the water, they operate exclusively on solar energy.

These parameters are sent back to the Netherlands in real time. Using these as a basis, we can communicate quickly with EPM and warn them of any possible new algal blooms.’

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

WATER AND FOOD More crop per drop. Is that not what every farmer wants?

Agriculture around the world is under pressure to manage water more sustainably, as the population is growing and with that so is the demand for food. At the same time, water is becoming more scarce and our climate is changing. How do we make sure that every drop ends up where it should be? Since 2013, the Netherlands has been cooperating with other countries to solve water problems using an integrated approach. “We want to share our knowledge and look at what we can learn from the Colombians about sustainable methods in the field of water management and food supply,” says Peter Prins, who works at the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP). With support from the Dutch Government, NWP is committed to promoting Dutch water expertise, also in connection with agriculture and horticulture.

“If a coffee farmer washes his beans and drains the wastewater into the river upstream, then this will lead to problems downstream,” explains Prins. “The farmers whose land is located downstream can no longer use the water. But what if we came up with a way of enabling the coffee farmer to reuse his wastewater? If we can make that possible, he no longer needs to drain it and can manage his water more sparingly.”

This way of managing drainage basins is an example of an integral approach in which the Netherlands has a great deal of knowledge.

However, connecting the different user functions of water in households, industry, horticulture and agriculture are also part of this integral approach. Prins explains, “We shouldn’t look for quick fixes, but rather find long-term sustainable solutions. This often requires a combination of different measures, such as retaining water in certain locations or infiltrating the soil, improving weather predictions or using intelligent irrigation technologies based on the moisture content of the soil. The last method is not only a way to prevent excessive use of water, but also reduces the risk of fertilisers being washed away.”

LOOKING BEYOND WATER “The Dutch integrated approach is characterised by the way it looks beyond water. An example of this is soil improvement, an area that has grown in importance in recent years,” says Prins. “Managing water is challenging, especially in areas with a tropical climate like Colombia. While there are large amounts of water during the wet season, the dry seasons often suffer from a lack of it. Healthy and fertile soils acts as a sponge for water. If enough fertiliser is used, then plants can develop robust roots, making them less vulnerable to the effects of drought. This is why it is important to constantly look out for resilience found naturally in plants and soil, whilst also implementing technical measures. Only then can we talk about sustainable solutions.”

The Netherlands is working in cooperation with local partners to provide sustainable solutions for coffee, bananas, oil palm and other crops.

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WATER COOPERATION

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

WORKING TOGETHER

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WATER COOPERATION

BUILDING BRIDGES The Netherlands and Colombia maintain a long-lasting relationship based on co-operation that dates back more than 50 years, a close bond that has evolved from traditional co-operation to a more balanced relationship based on mutual interests. The Netherlands provide Colombia with added value on key issues concerning the country’s sustainable development and water has always occupied a leading position within that framework of co-operation.

In recent years, Colombia has achieved significant economic growth.

It is now classified as an upper-middle income country. In that regard, and in view of the excellent results of our co-operation, numerous opportunities lie ahead to encourage contribution by the private sector in both the Netherlands and Colombia on water-related matters. Indeed, such collaboration concerns not just business corporations from both countries but also other institutions, government agencies and even the academic world. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Colombia plays a key role as facilitator and mediator between the parties.

EMBASSY AS “MATCH-MAKER” That requires striving to build bridges: to take Dutch expertise in integrated water management, for which they are internationally recognised, and link it to the Colombian experience, a country immensely wealthy in water but which at the same time faces significant challenges in water management, flood prevention, civilian access to safe drinking water, etc.. In this realm, the Embassy plays a role of “match-maker” by recommending, connecting and forging relations, not only government-to-government (G2G) but also between the private and public sectors (B2G), among the private sector (B2B), and between academic institutions and universities (K2K).

OPEN INVITATION Dutch expertise in water management has already been put to use in Colombia through different initiatives, for example, through the Colombo-Dutch Water Alliance, which has already materialised in different projects, such as the Coastal Master Plan, an Academic Partnership on water-related issues, and the creation of a Ports and Logistics Centre of Excellence (formed by the STC Group and the Universidad del Norte), among other ventures.

These excellent bilateral relations, which have intensified increasingly in recent years, are an open invitation to companies and academic institutes, among others, both in the Netherlands and Colombia, to meet and get to know each other. Traditional development cooperation has now matured into a ‘win-win’ relationship, where the supply of services and the demand for sustainable solutions are long term. Building bridges, figuratively, is the Embassy’s commitment in terms of economic diplomacy.

Economic diplomacy in issues concerning water helps the Colombian government to gain knowledge about Dutch initiatives, technologies, and innovative projects that can be applied locally. The Embassy forms a connection between the Colombian government and various bodies in the Netherlands (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, the Agency for Business Development, etc.).

At the same time, the Embassy is able to open doors in the Colombian public sector to help Dutch companies to build their reputation and find a position for themselves in Colombia. The Embassy is pro-active in facilitating the participation of Dutch companies and experts in specialised trade fairs, activities that also enhance a climate of business for Dutch companies and entities aiming to move into Colombia.

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Contact: Alexandra Díaz, Alexandra.DiazMontenegro@minbuza.nl 31

COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

‘ALL DUTCH EXPERTS UNDER ONE ROOF’ Holland House Colombia, located in Bogotá, is a place where Colombians can learn more about the Netherlands. “When the Colombians and Dutch come together, the result is generally fruitful collaboration”, says Jan-Willem van Bokhoven, the director of Holland House.

A PLACE TO CONNECT Alongside embassies in both countries, the Holland House Colombia acts as a place where Dutch and Colombian companies and organisations can connect with one another. “Business development is an integral part of what we do in Holland House Colombia. We help Dutch companies who are looking to do business in Colombia by sharing our knowledge of Colombia and introducing them to our networks. Once we’ve done this, we pair up Dutch companies with Colombian parties who we think are potential business partners. We also give advice and support about basic things, such as closing an account in Colombia, and also provide information about local laws and regulations.”

FOCUS Holland House Colombia was founded in 2012. It represents the whole Kingdom of the Netherlands, including Netherlands Antilles.

This private establishment was set up with help from the Dutch government. “The Netherlands and its constituents have always been an important economic partner for Colombia.” The support provided by Holland House varies regularly. “When we were first began operations, we connected a lot of Colombian agricultural entrepreneurs with Dutch businesses. It was in this period that

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many productive interconnections were made in terms of innovative projects. The same applies to the infrastructure and transport sectors.” The current focus is moving towards water issues.

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES Jan-Willem believes the water sector presents many opportunities for businesses from both countries. “While many Colombians know that the Dutch are internationally the best when it comes to coastal surveillance, they are much less aware the Dutch also possess expertise in the field of water management and purification. At the same time, Dutch companies active in this field still have many misconceptions about Colombia. This means that the opportunities to do business here are really being underestimated.”

PHYSICAL STRUCTURE Holland House is also the headquarters for the Holland Colombia Water Platform. In addition, a second office for Holland House has been opened in Barranquilla. “The Water Platform and Holland House complement each other very well. We provide a physical location where Dutch companies can come to work temporarily. This is also where Colombian companies can find all the information they need about doing business with Dutch companies. If these companies have any technical questions, we can put them in contact directly with our colleagues at the Water Platform. This set-up means that Dutch and Colombian partners can communicate with each other smoothly.”

WATER COOPERATION

‘INSPIRING COOPERATION’ Dutch water experts were asked to help Colombia following the severe floods that occurred in 2010 and 2011. Holland Colombia Water Platform has been active in Colombia since then. How is cooperation between companies organised and what does the platform do?

water management. “When Colombians do business with suppliers, they often ask for a concrete solution for a water-related problem.

However, this approach is not always the most suitable solution. A better approach is to ask suppliers: how would you solve this? This usually translates into a better result all round.”

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FROM THE NETHERLANDS

ENERGY AND PASSION

A place which inspires and connects - that is how Robbert van der Bij, business developer for the Dutch water sector in Colombia and associate of Holland House, describes the role of Holland Colombia Water Platform. “Colombians are very well educated and driven people. They have a rapidly growing economy and want to tackle issues which are in need of improvement. However, if you do not have any experience in areas such as coastal surveillance, it is very challenging to make any headway in that area. This in turn means it is difficult to find the best solution. We can inspire interested parties, local governments and businesses in terms of what they can achieve by showing them innovative solutions that Dutch water professionals have to offer.”

SPOTTING CHANCES Robbert is aware that his task is not only about providing inspirational solutions, but also spotting chances in the market. “Take for example the amount of drinking water which is lost in the grid.

Some regions in Colombia lose over 40% of their drinking water. In the Netherlands, we have managed to bring this figure down to 4%, the lowest in the world. We can help Colombian water companies to reduce the amount of water loss. People all over the world know the Dutch are excellent dyke builders, but we are also experts in water management.”

More and more Colombian experts in the field of water are visiting the Holland Colombia Water Platform and Holland House. They value Holland Colombia Water Platform as a location which brings together everything related to water and water management. “Our experience has shown us that the Dutch and Colombians work really well together. Colombians appreciate the directness of the Dutch, and we value how much energy and passion Colombians invest into their work. It really is a great combination, and one which both countries can benefit from immensely in the years to come.”

REGISTER Are you active in the water sector in Colombia and want to know how you can join forces with Dutch water companies? In November 2015, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands together with Holland Colombia Water Platform are sending a business delegation to the Netherlands. This visit will focus on the management of drinking water, water purification and flood protection measures.

For more information, please see: www.hcwp.nl. You can register directly with Robbert van der Bij: r.vanderbij@hcwp.nl

IMPROVED RESULT The Holland Colombia Water Platform can help to put Colombians in contact with experts from the Netherlands. They also provide support with an alternative and more effective way of working so that it is possible to meet the challenges in the field of water and

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP The next level of knowledge exchange The Netherlands and Colombia have a long history when it comes to sharing knowledge, as the countries have already been carring out research together since the 1970’s. Following the floods in Colombia in 2010 and 2011, universities and knowledge institutes from both countries have been aiming to strengthen this cooperation. This is how the Academic and Research Partnership (ARP) was formed.

Micha Werner, Associate Professor in Flood Risk Management and River Basin Development at the Dutch knowledge institute UNESCO-IHE and Juan Saldarriaga, professor at the Faculty of Engineering at the Colombian Universidad de Los Andes, and director of the University’s Water Transportation and Sewerage Research Centre (CIACUA), give us an update on the developments.

WHAT DOES THE PARTNERSHIP ENTAIL? Micha explains: “It is an intensive knowledge exchange between four Dutch institutes and four Colombian universities. We are already working together frequently in research projects and inter-institutional exchanges. One example that we have already developed is a joint Master’s programme between UNESCO-IHE and Universidad del Valle. We are aiming to strengthen these activities, and expand them to cover more areas. In the long term, we also want to increase the number of universities and knowledge institutes involved - the current eight is only the beginning.”

Juan adds: “On the Dutch side, the partnership consists of the Delft University of Technology, UNESCO-IHE, Wageningen University, and the Deltares Institute. On the Colombian side it includes; Universidad del Norte, Universidad de Los Andes, Universidad de Antioquia and Universidad del Valle. It includes full-time education courses, special subjects and Master’s degrees.”

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WATER COOPERATION

‘We can really benefit from each other’s work’

HOW WILL THE COOPERATION WORK EXACTLY? Micha says: “Our goal is to develop new joint Master’s programmes, and to carry out research together. The current focus is on a number of fields, including; Coasts and Coastal Zone Management, Groundwater and Hydrology, River Hydraulics and Morphology, Water Distribution, Urban Drainage, Waste Water Treatment, Water Governance, and Risk Management.”

Juan says: “Thanks to the partnership, Colombian students from public and private universities are now able to visit The Netherlands on exchange programs while Dutch students come to Colombia to improve their knowledge about water.”

WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THE COMING YEARS? Micha explains: “There are already plans to set up an alumni network and to create an overview of the joint research being carried out. We are also planning to organise an annual event for all parties involved. We intend to invite national and regional water managers, which will allow us to showcase our research, but also for them to pose their research questions, so that we can be sure our research answers a real need. We can really benefit from each other’s networks.”

Juan says: “Universidad de Los Andes is currently developing a common Master’s programme with Delft University of Technology in the field of drinking water facilities. A willing attitude by both parties will keep this alliance alive; and in that regard, we have plenty.”

WHAT CAN THE NETHERLANDS AND COLOMBIA LEARN FROM EACH OTHER? Micha explains: “Things are tackled differently in Colombia.

Decisions can take longer to make. In the Netherlands things often work in a more structured way and there is a long history of water management. This experience can benefit Colombia. But we can also learn a lot from the dynamics of the process in Colombia. How do you anticipate unexpected changes? What is also interesting in for example flood management, is that Colombians often focus more on social aspects, and not only on the economic ones. This is a point of interest for how we approach things in the Netherlands. Besides, gaining experience on water management in the tropics is good for the Netherlands, as it is renowned for its worldwide knowledge of water.”

Juan says: “Colombia is very interested in the Dutch specialist knowledge about coastal water systems, deltas and aquifers. In return, Colombia will provide insight into urban waters and mountain rivers. Colombian students will achieve significant professional enrichment because of this partnership, while the Dutch will have a chance to experience phenomena in Colombia, which are unusual and not often seen in Europe.”

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COLOMBIA - THE NETHERLANDS

INTRODUCING TWELVE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR AN INTEGRATED APPROACH Urban areas worldwide are facing the same challenges; population growth, flood risk, spatial planning, scarce natural resources. Due to climate change, the number and intensity of flood hazards will increase and shifts in the discharges of river systems and droughts will pose an increasing threat to these areas around the world. While the solutions for each country

The delta approach is a strategic planning process for delta development that integrates sustainability, institutional, physical and social economic aspects. It is an integrated water management planning approach that has proven to be very successful in the Dutch Delta programme, and has been tested and developed with international partners. The 12 building blocks are essential for a delta approach but are not solely limited to cities in a delta region. Nondelta cities face the same problems of increasing urbanisation and the related demands made on aspects such as water and food supply, transport and infrastructure, environment and quality of life. These 12 building blocks also have relevance beyond the environs of the delta to further integrated water management planning processes.

may be different, the preconditions for a sustainable water management approach are the same. In close cooperation with other countries worldwide, the Netherlands developed the ‘twelve building blocks for a delta approach’. In short: the ‘must haves’ for an integrated water management approach.

OVERALL YOU CAN SAY THAT THE DELTA APPROACH: > Provides a broad range of solutions to Delta Challenges, proven in practice, rooted in a strong engineering tradition and complemented with innovations such as building with nature, room for the river and water robust city design and building. > Is an integrated approach. Water challenges in crowded deltas are always connected to challenges in spatial planning, biodiversity and economic development. Dutch Delta Approach provides methods for balanced assessment of effects and stimulates integrated solutions. > Supports multi-level governance. Water management in the Netherlands is well organised across scales and water dependent sectors. With institutions that know how to find and deal with each other at their boundaries. Participation of societal groups is encouraged to enhance legitimacy and feasibility. In this setting the potential is increased that Delta challenges can be dealt with at the right scale and level and with the necessary support. > Is an adaptive planning approach which is called Adaptive Delta Management. It encourages flexible and robust decision making and design under a range of future scenarios while seizing opportunities arising from investment agendas outside the water domain. > Builds upon a strong knowledge and experience base which supports quantitative risk-based decision making, which practically supports and is targeted towards the decision making process and provides knowledge tools allowing for joint fact finding.

More information on the building blocks can be found here: www.dutchwatersector.com/delta

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WATER COOPERATION

‘Preconditions for sustainable water management’

SUSTAINABILITY, FLEXIBILITY, INTEGRATED APPROACH A delta approach’s main focus is water protection and availability, however it should also encompass nature, ecology, economy, recreation and spatial planning. To make a truly integrated delta plan it should address content as well as organisation, finance, process and planning

SOLIDARITY The basic principles that guide the delta planning process are sustainability, flexibility and solidarity.

The right solutions meet these three preconditions. The chosen solution should work and continue to do so in the future, despite other developments and should not harm the environment or society.

LONG TERM APPROACH VS. SHORT TERM MEASURES By taking the long term into account in the short term measures that are taken a robust, flexible, future proof delta plan is developed.

COOPERATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT LEVELS AND STAKEHOLDERS National government, regional governments and other stakeholders should cooperate to develop a full-fledged integrated delta plan that taps into local developments.

DEALING WITH UNCERTAINTIES AND USING SCENARIOS To deal with uncertainties about future developments scenarios can be used to integrate long term into short term ‘no-regret’ measures

DEALING WITH UNCERTAINTIES IN DECISION MAKING Uncertainties in developments often lead to uncertainties in decision making. Adaptive decision making, that describes which decision should be made when on the basis of which data, is therefore indispensable.

ANCHORING IN LEGISLATION AND DEPOLITIZATION A legal basis for delta planning and guidance of the process by a non-political commissioner depoliticizes the process, clearly sets the responsibilities and makes it less vulnerable to political mood swings.

FOCUS ON KEY DECISIONS AND CLEAR DEADLINES By setting clear deadlines in the decision making process, progress is guaranteed and delays in the process are prevented

INNOVATION A sustainable approach is fit for the future and therefore a driver for innovation and new technologies.

FINANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION Financing the implementation of the delta plan should be an upfront concern. Vulnerabilities to political short-term thinking must be avoided. Private financing can be explored as an interesting opportunity.

SUPPORTED ANALYSIS INSTRUMENTS Since many actors are needed for integrated delta planning, supported analysis instruments are indispensable to come to agreed upon facts and solutions.

QUALITY LABEL Incorporating the building blocks is a foundation for sustainable delta management. A tool that enables professionals, governments and investors to assess whether an approach follows the same criteria as the renowned Dutch Delta Approach, or achieves the same quality level by incorporating Dutch Expertise.

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CONTACT For more information about Dutch Water Expertise and the projects in this magazine, please contact us.

The Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) is a comprehensive network that unites Dutch Water Expertise. The partnership, consisting of 200 members from private companies, government, knowledge institutes and NGOs, acts as a centre of information on water expertise, policy developments and market opportunities. The NWP bureau coordinates international representation of the Dutch Water Sector on events, trade missions and facilitates incoming visits of professionals, press and politicians and is your gateway to the Dutch Water Sector. www.nwp.nl, info@nwp.nl

Arcadis Klaas de Groot Klaas.degroot@arcadis.nl

DCMR Milieudienst Rijnmond Roel van de Loo Roel.vandeloo@dcmr.nl

Nijhuis Water Rinze Knol Rinze.knol@nijhuisindustries.com

Jan van Overeem Jan.vanovereem@arcadis.nl

Findeter Juan Manuel Robledo Jmrobledo@findeter.gov.co

Royal HaskoningDHV Fortunato Carvajal Fortunato.carvajal@rhdhv.com

Fundacion Cerrejon para el Agua Ra煤l Roys Garzon raul.roys@cerrejon.com

Ren茅 Noppeney Rene.noppeney@rhdhv.com

Berson UV Paul Buijs paul.buijs@bersonuv.com Bluerise Diego Acevedo d.acevedo@bluerise.nl Water company Brabant Water Tico Michels Tico.michels@brabantwater.nl Corporaci贸n Aut贸noma Regional del Valle del Cauca (CVC) Maria Clemencia Sandoval Clemencia.sandoval@cvc.gov.co Sandra Teresa Escobar Sandra-teresa.escobar@cvc.gov.co Deltares Otto de Keizer Otto.dekeizer@deltares.nl

Holland Colombia Water Platform Robbert van der Bij r.vanderbij@hcwp.nl Holland House Colombia Jan Willem van Bokhoven jwvanbokhoven@hollandhouse-colombia.com

Solteq Herre Rost van Tonningen h.tonningen@solteq.eu STC BV Silvina Pereira Marques pereira@stc-r.nl Unesco-IHE Micha Werner m.werner@unesco-ihe.org

LG Sonic Falco Aguilar aguilar@lgsonic.com MircoLan Joep Appels Joep.appels@microlan.nl Netherlands Water Partnership Peter Prins p.prins@nwp.nl

Universidad de Los Andes Juan Saldarriaga jsaldarr@uniandes.edu.co Regional Waterboard De Dommel Louis Bijlmakers lbijlmakers@dommel.nl

WWW.DUTCHWATERSECTOR.COM

Wind, water and wide open spaces have shaped the Netherlands and its history. To be able to safely live in the low-lying delta that is the Netherlands, the Dutch have had to become skilled water managers. Our national track record speaks for itself. Over the years we have reclaimed land, increased our freshwater resources, and made it possible to re-use our wastewater.

We like to share our knowledge and skills internationally. We believe that by putting our heads together, we can achieve more in confronting global water-related challenges.

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On www.dutchwatersector.com you can find the combined Dutch water sector. It brings you the latest on worldwide water issues, innovations, events, Dutch partners and projects, supplemented with the interpretation of Dutch water experts.

Want to keep in touch with Dutch water expertise?

Visit www.dutchwatersector.com, like us on facebook www.facebook.com/dutchwatersector and follow us on Twitter @HollandWater.

WATER COOPERATION

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