Chile still unable to apply graywater reuse law after 5 years

Chile will have to wait at least another year to begin applying a graywater reuse law passed in 2018 as the health ministry has again delayed issuing a framework for the accompanying regulation. However, authorities are still working on a separate bill to promote reuse of wastewater. 

The health ministry withdrew an initial draft of the regulation for the graywater law from review by the national comptroller to enable the public works (MOP) and environment (MMA) ministries to recheck it, since it was submitted by the previous government. 

“Those guidelines have to contain the water quality rules and the minimum requirements that treatment systems must have,” the MMA’s legislative advisor, Cristóbal Correa, told the senate water committee during a public broadcast.

However, the executive branch submitted a separate bill in March that would set a one-year deadline to establish the regulations needed for the law to work, including the requirements for water quality and treatment systems. 

The bill, which is currently in the lower house of congress, would also give some farmers an administrative permit to use graywater for irrigation, albeit limited to crops that are not cultivated at ground level. 

WASTEWATER REUSE BILL

The senate water committee also continues to debate another bill that seeks to promote the reuse of treated wastewater that is currently disposed of through submarine emission lines.

On this front, environment minister Maisa Rojas said that the bill is in line with the government’s efforts to better manage water amidst a record-breaking drought in much of the country, as well as with the resilience objectives of the climate change law passed last year.

“There is a significant part of the territory that doesn’t have water security, meaning enough water to satisfy its needs,” Rojas said. 

The chair of the committee, senator Sergio Gahona, of the right-wing opposition party UDI, said that talks are also needed with water services regulator SISS and water utility association Andess as there are concerns about whether this bill could lead to an increase in water rates.

SISS head Jorge Rivas has previously warned that rushing to execute desalination and wastewater reuse projects for human consumption could lead to hikes of up to 100% in water bills.