Water | Ecuador
Some challenges that accompany supplying water in Ecuador to farms and cities in a sustainable manner are rooted in the location of water treatment plants as well as natural hazard issues. While at the ETAPA water treatment plant, we learned that rural areas have to provide their own water supply or rely on small, local governments to manage the water systems. Water also proved to be an issue for those located in the suburbios of Guayaquil, as infrastructure was not in place to carry clean water to the homes of those who lived there. This type of water supply issue stems from government placing urban biased on where to put large infrastructure, such as water treatment plants and roads, and leaving behind low-income areas and rural areas to fend for themselves. Another challenge that ETAPA faces is natural hazards effecting the water supply. Marco, our ETAPA guide, explained how rain can cause damage in the headwaters of the rivers due to landslides, and if too many landslides occur then the plant must be shut down in order to ensure safe drinking water to the city of Cuenca. This can cause many issues, as the water supply of a whole city may be switched off. Another natural hazard Marco mentioned was volcanic eruptions causing particulates to settle in the water, making it undrinkable. 
One thing that struck me as interesting was how Marco had not given a second thought on issues that may come in the future in regards to the water supply of Cuenca. When asked if climate change was a concern and how ETAPA was going to deal with the issues that come along with rising temperatures in South America, Marco explained how they haven’t felt the effects of climate change yet so they were not concerned about the available water for future use. One reason he was not concerned was due to the large number of lakes located in Cajas National Park and the laws that are in place to protect watersheds and other natural resources. While I understand Marco’s viewpoint, Pablo Osorio had quite the opposite view. At the end of the mapping lecture, Pablo mentioned that water was a main priority and a cause for concern in the future. He stated that the main issue in regards to sustainability issue in Cuenca is the overconsumption of water in the city. While current issues of supplying clean water to all parts of Cuenca seem to be manageable, the future issues may be much more detrimental as the water availably decreases in the region. A few ways consumers can affect the supply of water in Ecuador is through consuming less of it, as well as demanding more locations of water treatment plants that will allow low-income and rural communities to gain access to water.
Allowing clean water to reach to all parts of Ecuador and to all citizens goes hand in hand with the ideals of Buen Vivir. Buen Vivir is doing things in a way that is ecologically sound and community-centric. If the people of Cuenca and other major cities reduced their water consumption, that would allow future generations to be able to pull from watersheds in Cajas as well as preserve the natural landscape of the glaciated lakes. As Gregorio Villacis said in the San Joaquin Valley when asked what Buen Vivir meant to him, it is best for the planet if we meet only our needs not our wants.
