Water as a global commons

In case you have not seen this (article below) even the new Constitution in Ecuador faces challenges. Despite the laws and regulations that are designed to protect water, protection of water resources are successful as to what importance people make of them. For instance, with the Espanola Sole Source Aquifer System designation in NM that places a drinking water designation on the groundwater and recharge zones of an Aquifer; only mean what people do with it to enhance and define its importance.
Once a law, a designation or regulation is passed the work then begins. The work includes supply and demand analysis, roles and responsibilities, surface and ground water supplies Urban BMP's, Ag BMP's, Conservation LT and ST plans, shortage contingency plans, uses and measures of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and agricultural. Including Landscape uses and measure that convey soil, water plant relationships, Water efficiencies, surveys, type of turfgrass and alternatives including recycled, greywater and rain harvesting.
Ultimately this is what goes into the entire focus and evaluation for the techniques used, recommendations made and incentives put forth.

Perhaps by defining this as guidance outline would be helpful in coming to an
understanding of what the global water commons means. t is the local experience that makes up the global definition.


Ecuador approves law to resume mining activities
Associated Press Archive - Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Author/Byline: JEANNETH VALDIVIESO, Associated Press Writer

Ecuador's legislators have approved a bill that would resume mining
activities suspended nine months ago and promote large-scale mining
projects.

Environmental and Indian organizations immediately denounced the bill
approved Monday night and accused the government of selling out to foreign
interests.

The government says the new mining law will open the door to a potentially
lucrative and traditionally underdeveloped industry in the small Andean
nation.

Legislators approved the bill by a 50-15 vote and President Rafael Correa
has 10 days to sign it into law.

The assembly that wrote Ecuador's new constitution revoked nearly 80 percent
of the country's mining concessions in April, causing the stock of some
companies to plummet.

At the time, Correa said the mining sector lacked controls and sufficient
government benefits and was monopolized by a few.

The new bill establishes sufficient controls and environmental regulations
and would create 300,000 new jobs, Ecuador's Economic Development Commission
President Irina Cabezas said Tuesday.

Cabezas told Teleamazonas TV station that criticism by social groups
was "political."

Indian activist Monica Chuji told Teleamazonas on Tuesday that the law was
not sufficiently debated and said a slew of planned mining projects will
infringe on the human rights of nearby communities and damage the
environment.

Indian groups are planning a national protest on Jan. 20 and plan to sue to
have the bill declared unconstitutional.

Following the April decree suspending most mining activities, 3,100 of
Ecuador's 4,112 active mining concessions passed to the hands of Ecuador's
government and 1,220 concession requests were canceled. Affected companies
included Canada's Aurelian Resources Inc., International Minerals Corp. and
Iamgold Corp.

Those companies could resume projects under the new law.

Mining output in Ecuador is minimal. Large-scale projects have typically
centered on nonmetallic minerals like cement, in the hands of Swiss-based
Holcim Ltd and French Lafarge Cementos SA, among others.

The new law prohibits mining in environmentally protected areas, establishes
public auctions for government contracts and government royalties "no lower
than the amount" earned by the mining company, among other controls.