The behavior of this situation can be seen in the figure below: The following are some analysis on the 20 specific projects for water management. Type of projects The 20 projects surveyed, earned during the 16 years of the call, in the area of water management, have been characterized by addressing six main areas: Product development: These are innovative projects in goods and services for the savings, protection and water conservation education: are projects designed to raise awareness of workers, in order to promote savings, conservation of water resources. Management: These are projects that involve comprehensive management programs of action aimed at rational and efficient use of the planning and management: It is for the diagnosis of water resources of an area for the best use of it by an entity. Treatment: Measures to improve the physicochemical conditions and / or biological spills The following table shows the behavior of these areas analyzing the above table may show the following behaviors: The development of new products generated only once, the first call. Education projects were boom between 1995 and 1999. After this period there were no proposals that reached the charts or were not submitted. Programs aimed water management behavior have remained relatively constant since 1993 and represents 50% of the prizes awarded since the award began. Solo has introduced a program planning and resource management in the call 2006-2007.
Between 2000 and 2007 were awarded five projects for the treatment of effluents, reaching the second group of importance with 25% of the awards, showing a growing trend of such initiatives. Type of entities involved the analysis of promoters and / or collaborators of these projects will get the following result of the previous figure shows the little participation of trade unions (15%), entities with a huge potential in this area is conspicuous by its absence University as a participant and complement the business sector in the creation and management of knowledge for the development of new products and processes leading towards sustainable management of water resources. Likewise, a gap is evident in the public sector (environmental organizations), as regulator and policy maker for the proper management of the resource. Challenges and Opportunities This small analysis demonstrates, beyond obtaining an award the following challenges: promoting innovation in the business sector. While solutions “at the end of the tube” as the treatment of discharge are key to the management of water resources is necessary to focus efforts on two fronts: not generate effluents and use raw materials and less polluting substances. It is necessary that the Industry and the University of joint action to open spaces, as these are key areas for development. For its part, the unions should have more prominence as a strategy articles and links between Industry and University. The public sector is of vital importance for the integrated management of water resources, beyond the policies, standards and use charges.
There is a big challenge for consultants and environmental consultants. Because if it is true, it is very important to look back to see the latest requirements, meet the latest standards, you must prepare to see future trends in technology, legislation, evalucacion methodologies, research, etc.. Regardless of union participation, public or research, industry in Colombia should be prepared to address the management of water resources and environment in general through voluntary initiatives and strategies beyond the standard, otherwise you can not be competitive in a globalized world.