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 Mountains 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.

I hope All of you had a wonderful 2022 and a joyful end of the year festivities! 

It is already mid-January, so I decided to send this quick note to thank you for all that was possible for GWW (Global Water Watch) this past year on this amazing journey of encouraging water monitoring and living as a role model for watershed stewardship. The results of GWW activities I personally witnessed in the past year have been nothing short of ASTOUNDING. As for GWW, the year 2022 confidently was a wonderful one. 

It is a joy to read emails, Facebook posts or WhatsApp messages from people who have had amazing breakthroughs with their water monitoring or other environmental stewardship experiences; and of course, much more from other personal accomplishments or situations. 

It is your commitment to become a reliable monitor, to make changes and live a life more in harmony with the environment, enjoying and respecting nature and the outdoors that makes what we do possible, and we are incredibly grateful for that. We are happy for those new people that decide to re-integrate the rivers into their lifestyle. After the traveling hiatus due to Covid, 2022 gave GWW the opportunity to get back on the road.  

This past year has been quite a ride, starting with a May trip to Mexico to attend and present at the VIII Mexican Congress of Ecology that over 1,000 people attended! Which what followed by a series of field sessions conducting stream biomonitoring along with personnel from the Mexico Water Commission –CONAGUA. In addition, we ended up assisting at a laboratory on the preparation of all the reagents used for water chemistry monitoring, which are extremely expensive and almost impossible to find in our closest neighboring country. 

In September, we got the opportunity to share experiences and expand what GWW does for watershed stewardship, with a wonderful audience in the southern hemisphere, in the province of Concepcion in Chile. A selected group of 36 citizens successfully completed certifications in bacteriological monitoring, water chemistry monitoring, and stream biomonitoring. 

Finally, after about ten years absence, in November GWW got us back to the shores and watersheds of the Titicaca Lake in Peru. About 50 new water monitors completed trainings in the Cuzco and Puno departments. GWW participation in Peru included presenting at an Andean Forum, a press conference; a radio broadcast and many other meetings. Highlight of the trip is the beginning of an incredibly positive interaction with Bolivian partners concerned about the potential opening of a new mining operation in a watershed shared by communities in both countries. 

Additional GWW monitoring activities, environmental education activities and trainings in 2022 took place in Costa Rica plus the US states of Mississippi and Washington. 

GWW has been also attending virtual meetings of the, now a year-old organization, RED CAMCPA. This is a network of people working or interested in working on community-based, participatory water monitoring in the American continent, with representation of many Latin-American countries. The RED CAMCPA is a regional reference platform that is trying to unite social actors to conserve and restore the rivers of the American Continent through participatory community water monitoring. The network plans to have their first in-person meeting in 2023 in Chile. 

It is difficult to express my gratitude through these few lines for all this work and to every one of you out there reading this, monitoring and growing with us as better watershed stewards… 

So, all I can say is thank you! Keep monitoring. It is fun, it is entertaining, it is enriching. And never forget that your monitoring data is useful; it may not work miracles, but it will work wonders. During the beginning of 2023, chose to be a better watershed steward, monitor as much as you did in 2022; or more, if you think you fell short on your monitoring goal last year. Choose to let go of old excuses and commit to making time to go out once every month and monitor, with enthusiasm, with hope, with love, and with passion. 

Until next time… Happy and Prosperous 2023 filled with health, happiness, patience, and perseverance … and Keep Monitoring! 

This past Thanksgiving Day I was in Peru’s Highlands taking a short vacation, as some would say. These highlands are so beautiful and breathtaking that I could stay there forever, admiring them. The mountains are high, the valleys immense, all above the tree line (approximately 3,900 meters or 12,800 ft above sea level) and covered with grasses. Most communities survive on small self-sustained agriculture, few cows and large herds of alpaca, llamas and sheep. 

I returned to Perú after about 10 years, on behalf of Global Water Watch (GWW), the larger umbrella of citizen water monitoring groups based in the Auburn University Water Resources Center (AU-WRC) in the US. The trip was possible after a couple of years of conversations and a result of a strong collaboration of the NGO Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente ꟷDHUMA  (Human Rights and Environment) which is based in Puno, Peru and is developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed by DHUMA 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 Peruvian Departments of Puno, Cuzco, and beyond. The main goal of this trip was to conduct CBWS workshops with GWW certifications in bacteriological monitoring, stream biomonitoring, and water chemistry monitoring, and to coordinate the expansion of GWW CBWS activities in Peru with DHUMA.  

The GWW activities during this trip started, with the collaboration of the NGO Human rights without Borders, in the city of Espinar, in the Cuzco region, where twenty-one community members were certified as water chemistry monitors. We conducted monitoring practices on the Apurimac River, the water source for several of the communities. Afterwards, we shared and discussed the water chemistry monitoring results.  

The next stop for GWW activities was in the city of Puno, where 35 community members, some of them already environmental water watchers and monitors, from Yacango, Coata and Caracoto, participated on November 13 and 14 in the GWW sessions on bacteriological monitoring, physical and chemical monitoring, and stream biomonitoring using macroinvertebrates. The new GWW monitors including students, teachers and community members believe that this certification will improve their abilities to monitor. They feel that participatory community environmental surveillance and water monitoring are valuable tools for self-advocacy. 

A highlight of the trip was a visit to the Condoraque watershed; where I had been back in 2009, when GWW traveled to Puno to conduct the first water monitoring workshops, which included some community members from Condoraque. Since the late 1970s, the communities along the Condoraque River had been seeing their river turn from a healthy river to a yellowish river carrying the outflow of a mining operation at the top of the mountain. Villagers referred to the Condoraque River as “burning waters” because of the toxic waste coming from the mine upstream, which made the river untouchable. The original mining company left in the 1990s, and did no type of reclamation. In 2010, the Condoraque case concerns were presented to the United Nations in New York. As a result, the second company that bought the mining rights of the area agreed to the condition that it would repair the environmental damage caused by the first mine. 

This time, the view of the Condoraque River was different. A consultant group, Cumbres del Sur, has been working on remediating the mining damage and their efforts have been effective so far. A water treatment plant was installed and is treating the water still flowing from the mine, right next to the Choquene Lagoon, that held most of the contaminated effluents and has been dredged, and flora and fauna can be seen back in the water and shores. Downstream, on the river, I picked up some rocks from the channel and found macroinvertebrates and saw some fish. 

A group of Condoraque residents came along to the visit and guided tour of the treatment plant by the Choquene Lagoon; they are happy that the river is returning to life, yet they still see the need to continue the remediation work downstream. Although this looks and sounds like a win for nature and the indigenous communities in Condoraque, it is only one of hundreds of rivers and watersheds in Peru, that are in the same situation Condoraque was 10 years ago. Only two days before we had visited the Llallimayo River, and the view there is very sad. 

We got up at 3 am to reach the Jatun Ayllu River up in the mountain near the Aruntani S.A.C. mine. The trip from Puno takes almost 5 hours, so after a while we stopped for a big breakfast in the city of Ayaviri, which lays on the north side of the river. After about one hour from Puno, the road more or less follows the Llallimayo riverbanks for many miles. Both the Condoraque and Llallimayo rivers flow into Lake Titicaca carrying a load of heavy metals. The lake that straddles the border of Bolivia and Peru and was once revered, has become a dumping site for trash, and the fish from the lake that is a staple in many diets in the region, contain dangerous levels of cadmium, lead, mercury, and other heavy metals. Recent blood and urine tests from residents, including children ages 4-14, along the Coata River near Juliaca revealed high levels of arsenic and mercury. 

As stream enthusiasts usually do, at the confluence of the Jatun Ayllu River with a clean tributary flowing from an undisturbed mountain, I got near the water and picked up rocks from the channels, looking for life. The rocks on the clean creek were covered with macroinvertebrates, mayflies, amphipods and other; while the rocks from the Jatun Ayllu were covered with a thick layer of yellowish sediment containing who knows what. For over ten years, that has been the life of the residents downstream from the mine, a yellow river that sometimes turns orange and other times green. They have condemned the pollution of the tributaries of these basins, the death and malformation of their alpacas, sheep and cattle and the disappearance of cultivation pastures. 

The gold mining industry is one of the most destructive industries and has a devastating impact on ecosystems worldwide. I never had a gold ring, but realize that for many it is quite important. Yet, next time you buy a gold ring consider the following: Earthworks estimates that to produce enough raw gold to make a single ring, 20 tons of rock and soil are dislodged and discarded, producing waste that carries mercury and cyanide, which are used to extract the gold from the rock. Gold mining may be done with less environmental impact, and as we saw in Condoraque, some of the damage can be prevented. 

This GWW trip to Peru was another step to expand global environmental awareness and literacy through community-based, science-based watershed stewardship and water monitoring. After the trainings I could see a little 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.