On this morning Wednesday, April 15the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Cundinamarca (CAR)decided to toughen the conditions of the water concession to Indegabottler Coca Cola, in the municipality of La Calera.
According to the director of the entity, Alfred Ballesterosthe continuity of use of three of the seven springs from which it came was denied extracting water from the bottling plant.
Likewise, the total water uptake of 3.2 to 1.9 liters per second by the company.
The water collection volume was reduced from 3.2 to 1.9 liters per second. Photo:Nicolas Diaz the time
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Well restrictions and catchment reduction
In detail, the Resolution 347 of 2026 established that Indega will not be able to continue using the groundwater from wells 5, 6 and 7, located on the property. Los Cerritos, from the Santa Helena village.
However, it extended the groundwater concession of wells 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the San José propertyfrom the same path. With this decision, a 42 percent decrease in the use of water resources.
The company will no longer be able to extract water from wells 5, 6 and 7 in the Santa Helena village. Photo:CAR
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License time adjustments
Likewise, the environmental authority reduced the concession license from 10 to 5 years for Indega capture water from this micro-basin.
“We have been careful to ensure that our decisions are based on analysis of technical and scientific data, on water balance models for historical averages, dry and rainy and in the guarantee of spaces for citizen participationincluding a public hearing,” said Ballesteros.
We denied the extension to Industria Nacional de Gaseosas SAS – INDEGA SAS in three of the seven springs that it had been using. In the remaining four, we reduced the flow rate from 3.23 to 1.9 liters per second and limited the permit to five years, not ten.
The decision is supported by… pic.twitter.com/xA2bWKxca9
— Alfred Ballesteros Alarcón (@Alfred_Balle) April 15, 2026
Surveillance and monitoring in real time
It is important to highlight that the extension granted in the four springs will remain under surveillanceensuring that the company comply with water withdrawal limits.
If any irregularity is evident, the authority may revoke said permit. Among the measures that will be taken by the CAR to monitor the extension is the installation of a measurement system that allows knowing in real time the flow captured in liters per second from authorized births.
The firm must adapt works for the alternative supply of the local aqueduct. Photo:CAR Cundinamarca
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Additionally, the CAR determined a series of measures environmental compensation What should you assume from now on? Indega.
According to the entity, the plan obeys a regime issued last year by themselves and which is “much more demanding than the previous standard”, in order to compensate for whats ecosystems and the neighboring community.
Restoration and alternative supply obligations
First of all, the bottling Coke must acquire 53.4 hectares of moorlands and high Andean ecosystems, for their conservation and protection, and to advance there restoration and recovery actions with native species.
Furthermore, you are obliged to make a diagnosis and implement hydraulic and civil works for the alternative supply of the aqueduct La Calera (urban and/or rural), using the flows of the springs that were not extended (wells 5, 6 and 7).
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Technology stations and community participation
The company will also have to install a station hydrometeorological to transmit data in real time to the CAR Hydrometeorological Network.
Finally, a strong linkage component was established and community participation in activities for the conservation of flora and faunathrough training programs of the educational community of the San Lorenzo micro-basin.
Among the tools is the installation of 10 camera traps in forested areas for monitoring wild animals and preparing and distributing educational material.
For now, the CAR Cundinamarca determined that, in the event of events that limit the availability of the flow, such as droughts, pollution or natural disasters, The collection of springs 1, 2, 3 and 4 must be suspended immediately. whose use was extended.
Indega response
The company spoke out against the CAR’s decision through a statement, highlighting that it will analyze said resolution in detail.
“In the framework of the environmental administrative procedure related to the extension of the groundwater concession in the municipality of La Calera, Indega SAS has been aware of the public statements made by the CAR. They will be analyzed in detail in the formal stages of the process.with full respect for the institutions, their decisions and the current legal framework,” the company explained.
In the same way, they reiterated their commitment to compliance with current environmental regulations.
“Indega reiterates its commitment to the responsible and sustainable use of water resources, the protection of ecosystems and respectful relationships with communitiesalways operating under the highest environmental standards and in strict compliance with Colombian legislation,” he added.
Nicolás Díaz Malpica
BOGOTÁ EDITORIAL
