Maria Teresa ArmijosInstitute of Development Studies

Research Funded by Proyecto Paramo Andinoand Natural Resources International Foundation

Water User Associations are in charge of managing small drinking water systems in rural Ecuador.

This form of administering drinking water was introduced during the 1970’s

Today it is a widespread practice considered part of indigenous and peasant governance practices.

In the process of managing a particular resource, water, people struggle to exercise and define a form of citizenship

Otavalo, Ecuador

Two Communities

Drinking water

systems

Ethnographic and

historical research

Establishment of piped water

systems in the 1970’s.

Reluctance to accept it.

Institutional arrangement

Governing board in charge of

maintaining and operating water

systems

Work parties or mingas are carried

out to maintain the system

Rules, tariffs and sanctions that

apply to other aspects of social life

“Regulatory community”

“Nowadays is water that gets everything done, if there is a minga to clean the road, and people don’t work, it is through water that they will be ‘charged’. If someone does not participate in the minga they risk being cut from the system. This means that water is a medium to ‘charge’ people for work that has not be done.”

Gilberto CifuentesTeacher

“When they started looking for water they found itup in the mountain, a water spring, and then thepiped water project began. Then we worked,everyone did, we did it through the minga, thiswater is product of the minga, of the communitymembers, we are always working, it is thestrength of all of us, men and women working. Iworked too, the same my husband, making thetanks to collect drinking water!”

Guadalupe CholangoCommunity Member

Responsibility

Involvement and acceptance

Ability to sanction and inspire

cooperation

Control of labor force

Gained political power through

control of natural resources at the

local level

Conceived as a civil right by

indigenous and peasant

communities

"We are autonomous, we want to be respected because we have worked for many years”

Eduardo Quimbiurco, Leader of the Communidad de Ayora

“It has coasted us a lot to have water and we are well organized, it would not be fair if the government takes away this right from us”

María Isabel Gualotuña, member of La Vaqueria WUA.

Trying to satisfy daily needs

and in the process a political

and social meaning is created

Autonomy has led to the

strengthening of local control

of resources

New types of knowledge and

conservation initiatives help

legitimise these systems

Power relations, inequality,

accountability and efficiency.

The Water User

Association has become

an important local

governance institution

WUAs are asserting control over natural resources at local level

Beyond access : issue of control and governance of resources as a right.