The aim of this article is to establish if water resource management related to water supply, demand, quality, and risks in the Colombian case has transitioned from governability to governance. The concept of water governability refers to institutional competence in the design and effective implementation of socially acceptable public policies. Water governance pertains to transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in the definition and implementation of public policies for water management involving democratic mechanisms and institutions that prioritize social interest articulation. This distinction is important because the governability model is designed to simplify all water management processes related to the adoption and implementation of public policies; however, this approach tends to ignore the fact that water problems are wide reaching and complex as they involve all aspects of society, including culture, the economy, and law. The governance model, by contrast, considers such factors. This article discusses the distinction between water governability and water governance as well as the shift from an integral water resource management model to a water governance paradigm. Next, the particular characteristics of the Colombian case are explained. Finally, the elements of governance within the Colombian system are analyzed to establish whether a transition has been achieved.
