Last year, on July 30th of 2023, our partners in Mexico, Amigos del Pixquiac (Friends of the Pixquiac River), joined for their 200th time to conduct one more Global Water Watch monitoring event at their beloved river. Accomplishing 200 monitoring events was an unthinkable milestone for Eduardo Aranda, who is one of the leaders of Amigos del Pixquiac and probably the GWW-Mexico monitor with the most records ever collected. I asked Eduardo to share with us some of his thoughts about reaching this milestone, and share memories and some of the many unforgettable moments he has lived while monitoring the Río Pixquiac. This is a loose translation of what Eduardo had to say about that event and his time monitoring with Amigos del Pixquiac:

It is a bit difficult for me to review and summarize the 200 water-monitoring events of the Pixquiac River in these 18 years that have passed since 2005. Because of the memories, the historical conditions, the personal circumstances, social problems, opportunities and even different emotions are certainly intermingled.

What I can say is that at that time, in the year 2005, a group of residents of Zoncuantla, residents of the Pixquiac River watershed, had the concern of being able to know or analyze the water quality of the river. The only alternative that we could recognize was to carry a sample of water to a private laboratory and request them to do some analysis, but without really knowing what tests should be or even how much it would cost us to do it, much less being able to obtain an interpretation when we had the results in our hands.

Eduardo Aranda (left) and a group of Amigos del Pixquiac while conducting the 200th water monitoring event at three sites in their river on July 2023.

It was in that August of 2005 that we attended an event, with the curiosity to listen to a series of conferences that were conducted at the Institute of Ecology in the Clavijero Botanical Garden in Xalapa. There, among other topics, we were able to listen to interesting talks by colleagues from the University of Auburn, in Alabama USA, with the special charisma of Dr. Bill Deutsch and Sergio Ruiz Cordova (Guatemalan).

During those conferences, we were presented with a novel and magnificent opportunity with which, ourselves as a community, could carry out not only one isolated analysis of the water, but many periodic samplings of our river and also be able to interpret and understand the results, and draw our own conclusions and care recommendations for our river. In addition to everything, the next day we began participating in a series of training sessions to certify us as “GWW Monitors”, in which we were lucky enough to conduct the fieldwork in our Pixquiac River…!

Bill Deutsch and Sergio RuizCórdova interpreting bacteria monitoring results at the first GWW training in Mexico in 2005, Eduardo Aranda taking photos.

That was the beginning, and our enthusiasm was capped with the generous donation of the Physical-Chemical Monitoring Kit, with which we already had everything we needed to begin monitoring, and that is how we started…!

Beautiful view of the river during a water monitoring event of the Amigos del Pixquiac.

Our initial objective as Monitors was to be able to recognize and understand the quality of the water in the Pixquiac River when arriving at, and when leaving our community in Zoncuantla. A few months later, we were invited to visit Auburn, Alabama in the United States to learn other monitoring techniques and to meet other groups that had been carrying out these activities there for a long time. The trip opened our eyes to new opportunities, not only to continue learning but also to be able to share what we knew and teach to others in our country, as we became GWW Trainers.

After our return from the GWW headquarters in Auburn, we began conducting visits and trainings in other states: Chiapas, the State of Mexico, Oaxaca and other places.  Those interactions allowed us to broaden our understanding of rivers, their similarities and differences, but above all, to meet many wonderful people with the same desire to contribute their time and effort to take care of our rivers.

I want to acknowledge the always kind and generous presence and unconditional support of Bill, Sergio, Eric Reutebuch, Mona Dominguez and many others in Auburn, as well as the companionship, support and determination of our colleagues in Xalapa. Many of whom not only have accompanied us to countless monitoring events of the three sites on the Pixquiac River, but together we saw ourselves with the opportunity and responsibility of starting Global Water Watch Mexico and thus being able to expand our reach and our influence everywhere we were asked to go.

I want to highlight that in all these 18 years of monitoring the Pixquiac River, we have had the opportunity to see the river in many, if not all of its presentations. From observing imposing and dangerous floods, moments of calm and wonderful beauty, to witness moments that we did not expect to see, with points and events of high contamination, to even periods and sections of the river, with the streambed completely dry, without a drop of water… In these 18 years, as a community we have experienced population growth problems, environmental threats, pollution attempts, as well as opportunities to enjoy a beautiful, healthy, and magnificent river that has given us beauty, peace, and gratitude. Without a doubt I can say that these 18 years have been a wonderful learning experience, of coexistence and personal growth, recommended for everyone and at any stage of our lives…!

A sad view of the Pixquiac River during an unusual period of drought in 2023 .

This 200th monitoring event of our Amigos del Pixquiac was another highlight and testimony of the expansion of global environmental awareness and literacy through the Global Water Watch’s promotion of community-based, science-based watershed stewardship and water monitoring. Of course, there was a celebration with great food, fruits and drinks, as well as great conversation and camaraderie among the new and the seasoned Amigos del Pixquiac. In the end, there was a light of optimism in all the water monitors from Zoncuantla and Xalapa; there was a consensus that they are doing something good to keep their river alive and in good health. And that of course reminds me the last part of the AU WRC mission that proclaims to empower private citizens to become active stewards of water resources. GWW would like to commend the commitment of these exceptional water stewards, as very few have the dedication to achieve such an impressive milestone.

The return to Santiago was, as usual as it is after most Global Water Watch (GWW) trips, filled with the nostalgia that you get when leaving the extraordinary people, with whom you have been sharing many wonderful moments for days. Concepcion is about 500 km (~310 miles) south of Santiago, so the trip took about six hours by bus, along the valley between the beautiful Pacific Ocean on the west and the magnificent and breathtaking Andes on the east. Most passengers went to sleep as the bus was an extremely comfortable two-decker, but I stayed awake admiring the side of the road. Agricultural and silvicultural fields kept appearing as Chile is a big producer and exporter of fresh fruit, wine, and forestry products. We crossed over many rivers: Itata, Ñuble, Longavi, Achibueno, Putagán, Maule, Tinguiririca, Cachipoal, and Maipo near the entrance to Santiago. The bus also passed along towns whose names I have heard many times through the songs of Violeta Parra, ‘The Mother of Latin American folk’; Parral, Perquilauquén, Chillán. Thanks to life, that has given me so much; it has given me the stride of my tired feet, with them I have traversed through cities and puddles, valleys and deserts, mountains, and plains. Beautiful lyrics and music that still are an emblem of the socially, economically, and politically marginalized peoples of Latin America and their ongoing struggle for justice in all aspects; environmental, social, political, you name it.

After several years of virtual communications, finally this was our first — post-COVID— trip to Chile on behalf of GWW, the larger umbrella of citizen water monitoring groups based in the Auburn University Water Resources Center (AU-WRC) in the USA. The trip was possible after a couple of years of conversations and a result of a strong collaboration with the NGO  Fundación Manzana Verde  (FMV) which is based in the city of Concepción, Chile. The main goal of this trip was to conduct community-based, science-based watershed stewardship (CBWS) workshops with GWW certifications in bacteriological monitoring, stream biomonitoring, and water chemistry monitoring, and as part of coordinating the expansion of GWW CBWS activities in Chile with FMV.

The mission of FMV is to promote sustainable development considering all kinds of integrating approaches. That is why it uses dynamics where diversity is sought in participation not based on gender, race, physical or mental ability, age or species. FMV places itself in a biocentric paradigm, betting on the restoration of balance, where all diversities are essential. This translates into a work ethic that aims to repair the gaps that are usually embedded in the work logic of human groups. FMV leaders learned about GWW and how it works, leading to conversations about cooperative work and are developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed by FMV and GWW. The purpose of the MOU is to coordinate the fostering of Community-Based, Science-Based Watershed Stewardship (CBWS), and citizen-based water monitoring in the Chilean Biobío region, and beyond.

The Biobío River is the second largest river in Chile, originating in the Andes and flowing through mountains and valleys for 380 km (about 236 mi) before entering the Pacific Ocean not too far from Concepcion. It has been important to the country, to the extent that one of the 16 political regions in Chile carries that name, whose capital is in the city of Concepcion. The Biobío River also has exceptional cultural importance since for over 300 years it represented the historic border between the Spanish conquerors and the Mapuche people; witnessing bloody battles, agreements, and betrayals. This has prompted some people to describe the Biobío with words such as life, spirit, border, and obstacle.

The Mapuche people are the largest ethnic group in Chile with approximately 10% (more than 1.000.000 people) of the Chilean population. However, it was not until 1993 that was officially accepted for the first time in the history of Chile that the country is a multiethnic society. This gave the Mapuche more protection and respect; nevertheless, they are still quite vulnerable, are seen as second-class citizens, and have less opportunities and difficulties in getting education, and jobs, where typically are underpaid. Many FMV leaders and collaborators identify themselves as Mapuche.

The highlight of the GWW activities in Chile occurred from September 30th through October 2nd in the city of Tomé, not far from Concepcion, where 34 members from the communities of Tomé, Penco, Laja, Los Alamos, Junquillar, Concepcion, Isla Mocha and Futaleufú, participated in the GWW training sessions on bacteriological monitoring, physical and chemical monitoring, and stream biomonitoring using macroinvertebrates.

The hands-on activities for the physical and chemical water testing as well as the actual stream biomonitoring training went well with practice conducted at the Estero Nachur before entering the city of Tomé. After a few minutes of sampling with a kick net, numerous bugs were collected and sorted into 12 different taxa with a plethora of macroinvertebrates present in each tolerance group. Notable was the presence of macros that are extremely sensitive to pollution (six taxa from Group I) such as mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies, as well as hellgrammites and crabs from the genus Aegla sp. (four taxa in Group II). The final biotic index calculated was 28, providing a stream assessment of “excellent”; which, taking into consideration that aquatic macros are the best, and obviously more consistent (24/7), water monitors, reflects the exceptional quality of the Estero Nachur at that site. Physical and chemical water characteristics tested at this site provided values considered good quality for aquatic life including a neutral pH of 7.0 and dissolved oxygen of 9.5 ppm. Bacteriological monitoring for E. coli presence was conducted at three sites along the Estero Nachur providing evidence of almost no pollution before entering the city, and more contamination downstream.  

The new GWW monitors including students, teachers and community members believe that this certification will improve their abilities as environmental monitors. They feel that participatory community environmental surveillance and water monitoring are valuable tools for self-advocacy. And there is no better way to express it as in the own words of FMV Esteban Flores: this weekend a collective dream for FMV came true when we learn how to use tools that will catapult us towards (water) data autonomy for our basins… and here is the teaser of the audiovisual material that documents this experience. But we also learned about ourselves, with a network that extends from Futaleufú, passes through the Biobío, stops at Laja, in parallel goes through Isla Mocha, shifts north reaching Antihuala and Pangue, moves through Junquillar, encompasses the Chimalfe wetland, goes up and down through Nonguén and Andalién, walks towards Penco and expands all the way to the Tomesinas basins. A network of monitors, a network of people, of hearts and love for our waters. A step forward towards our territorial sovereignty, autonomy of our basins data, decision-making for ecological health, the restoration of our basins, the recovery of our ecosystems and new human-nature relations. Thank you Esteban, we the GWW visitors also found very rewarding, enjoyable and educational our visit to Chile.

A group of new GWW monitors in Chile. 

Other GWW activities during this trip included a visit to the University of Concepcion, a tour of the Hydrology Department laboratories and conversations about possible academic, research and outreach cooperation and exchanges between them and Auburn University. This GWW trip to Chile was another step to expand global environmental awareness and literacy through community-based, science-based watershed stewardship and water monitoring. After the trainings there was a light of hope in the new water monitors from those communities; and that made me recall the last part of the AU WRC mission that says empower private citizens to become active stewards of water resources.