Reflections on community water management in relation to socio-environmental problems, Alto San Pedro village of Pasto.

Abstract

Water care is a top priority for the conservation of various forms of life; it is a common cause that involves the development of both individual and collective processes to enable a new relationship between humans and the natural environment, focused on the sustainability of water resources, in addition to, the access to clean water and sanitation as essential public services.

This article delves into the elements that form part of Community Water Management (CWM), taking as a reference the analysis conducted in the Alto San Pedro village of Pasto, Colombia, based on direct engagement with key stakeholders: the Village Aqueduct Administrative Board and the Environmental Committee of the Agustín Agualongo Municipal Educational Institution. Through various methodological strategies, these groups were able to identify the socio-environmental challenges in their context related to water resources.

It begins with a description of the essential factors of CWM, including community participation, the identification of key stakeholders, organisational forms for water management, and the recognition of water resources in the context. The article then describes the socio-environmental issues affecting the water source of the village aqueduct, Quebrada Yacuco, from a holistic and environmentally responsible perspective. From this reflection, a critical discussion is proposed about the reality of CWM from an inclusive, territorial approach, suggesting some conclusions aimed at water governance as a process that requires the coordination, commitment, and action of different stakeholders in the territory to promote collective alternatives for the conservation, protection, and use of water as a vital resource.