Sanctioning administrative regime on water in Chile: diagnosis, implementation and challenges

The purpose of this work is to systematize and analyze the water sanctioning regime established in Chile, based on a critical review of the reforms introduced to the Water Code by the Act 21.064 of 2018, and where appropriate, by the recent Act 21.435, of 2022. Through the first one, greater powers were granted to the General Water Directorate (Dirección General de Aguas) in matters of control and sanctions, which poses several challenges, both of a substantive and procedural nature. More than four years after its entry into force, certain results of the implementation of these rules are verified, identifying some gaps and possibilities for improvement.