Escasez y sequía en acuífero del río Copiapó �[Shortage and drought in the Copiapó river aquifer]

The northern part of our country has arid and semi-arid conditions in which fundamental economic activities take place, mainly mining and agriculture, the latter in the regions of Atacama and Coquimbo. Both require water as the main production factor. Water, as public property, has a social value for public consumption, environmental, for wetlands preservation, and cultural for the welfare of indigenous communities. In this context, groundwater takes a role of great importance, which is why this research pursues to characterize the legal status, considering current recorded physical data concerning conditions of scarcity and drought observed trough over 30 years in this basin, trying in this sense, to contribute in a sustainable management of such resource and a fair allocation, considering of its uses.