Drinking water games banned during carnival.
In order to protect water resources for human consumption, Bolivia has banned games with drinking water during carnival and local governments must take sanctions against offenders, according to the Ministry of Environment and Water.
“It is decided to prohibit the inappropriate use of drinking water for human consumption during the carnival festivities, avoiding the waste of the liquid element, this provision will apply throughout the national territory, in the management 2025,” states Ministerial Resolution 019.
It also states that the departmental and municipal governments, the Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (AAPS), the drinking water and sewerage companies, and public and private institutions “are responsible for controlling the use of water and must adopt sanctioning measures in accordance with their competences”.
In accordance with the regulation, the country’s municipalities have established bans and sanctions for water games.
The Mayor’s Office of La Paz announced that controls will be intensified during the carnival festivities to prevent waste and the illegal commercialisation of water. Fines will range from 125 to 500 UFV, depending on the seriousness of the offence. In El Alto, the mayor’s office will impose a fine of Bs1,000 on those who waste water.
In Sucre, Chuquisaca, ‘aggressive’ play with water balloons has been banned and offenders will be subject to economic sanctions and even arrest and prosecution in the case of ‘major damage’.
