DGA Resolution 1238: what it requires and how your rural water committee can comply
If your rural water committee (APR) draws water from a well, DGA Resolution 1238 requires you to measure how much water you extract and report that data to the government. It's not optional, and there are fines for non-compliance. Here's a plain-language rundown of what it requires, who it applies to, the deadlines, and how to comply without a headache.
What Resolution 1238 is
It's a resolution from Chile's Water Directorate (DGA), published on July 1, 2019, that sets the technical conditions and deadlines for the obligation to install and maintain a system that monitors and transmits actual extraction data at groundwater catchment works — your well.
In plain terms: the DGA wants to know how much water each well is pumping and how the water table is doing, and it wants that data sent automatically.
Who it applies to
Holders of groundwater use rights. Most APR committees with a well fall under this obligation, especially those located in prohibition zones or restricted areas.
If your APR draws from a well with registered water rights, it almost certainly applies to you.
What equipment it requires (it depends on your flow rate)
The requirement isn't the same for everyone: it scales with how much water your well extracts.
| Extraction size | What's required |
|---|---|
| Very small (under 2.5 L/s) | Just a flow meter (to measure volume) |
| General / intermediate | Flow meter + water table level sensor + data logger storing at least 3 years of data |
| Medium and large (over 10.8 L/s) | All of the above + real-time telemetry |
The three key components are:
- Flow meter: measures the volume of water leaving the well.
- Water table level sensor: tracks the state of the aquifer.
- Data logger + transmission: stores the data and sends it to the DGA.
The deadlines
- As a general rule, data must be transmitted within a maximum of 5 days.
- Medium and large extractions require real-time transmission.
- The DGA rolls out deadlines in stages, starting with the highest-volume extractors and provisional rights holders.
There's enforcement and fines for non-compliance, so it pays to get compliant before an official notice arrives.
How to comply without the hassle
Complying with Resolution 1238 doesn't have to mean wiring up every well or wrestling with spreadsheets:
- Measure at the well with a flow meter and level sensor sized to your flow rate.
- Transmit automatically with telemetry, instead of writing readings down by hand and risking the 5-day deadline.
- Keep the history (the DGA requires at least 3 years) without depending on a notebook.
At Ziktel that's exactly what we do: telemetry over a LoRaWAN network, where a single antenna on high ground covers kilometers without relying on each house's WiFi or a cellular chip per meter. You measure the well, the data transmits itself and gets logged — ready to report to the DGA, and it also helps you track daily consumption, catch leaks, and organize billing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Resolution 1238 apply to every APR?
To those extracting groundwater under registered water rights, which is the vast majority. If your well has registered rights, assume it applies to you.
Is a flow meter enough on its own?
Only if your extraction is very small (under 2.5 L/s). Above that you also need a level sensor and a data logger, and for the largest extractions, real-time telemetry.
What happens if I don't comply?
The DGA enforces the rule and issues fines. On top of that, the data it requires is useful for you too, to manage your APR better.
This article is a general guide and doesn't replace the official text of DGA Resolution 1238 or advice from a qualified professional. Always check the DGA's official source for your specific case.
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