8 From dirty to clean pipes: A review of an anti-corruption agreement to prevent corruption in water and wastewater pipe supply in Colombia

Authors: Alma Rocío Balcázar, Carlos Perea

In 2007, the independent “Ethics Committee” of the Colombian Pipe Manufacturers Anti-Corruption Sectorial Agreement[1] undertook its first monitoring to examine the regional water system “La Línea” which includes Santa Rosa de Lima and three other towns. This involved seeking information, asking for explanations and reporting findings to the responsible regulatory agencies and authorities. The current status of the project can be summarized as follows: The towns still don’t receive any water and the water supply system is not completed. Although pipes were bought, at an estimated cost of USD 1.5 M, there is no water flowing and the pipes are just piled-up along the road.  It was impossible during the visit to find representatives of the utility supposedly running the scheme. Also, the company that was supposed to supervise the project declined to provide any information. In September 2010, the Vice Ministry official response was  “The date that Santa Rosa de Lima will have water is uncertain”.

[1] In Spanish ‘Acuerdo para prevenir practicas de corrupción en las empresas fabricantes de tuberías y accesorios’