For land, water, and the protection of collective life.
Water is essential not only for health, but for food sovereignty, community wellbeing, and the continuity of life in Azama. UNORINCA works to protect water sources, strengthen local infrastructure, and ensure long-term access to clean and reliable water for Kichwa communities.
Grounded in collective stewardship of territory, this work connects environmental care, community governance, and sustainable development.
The Territory We Protect
The communities of Azama are located in the Andean highlands of Imbabura, where water systems depend on mountain springs, fragile ecosystems, and collective maintenance practices carried across generations.
These territories face increasing environmental pressures, including landslides, erosion, infrastructure deterioration, and climate-related instability that threaten access to water and community wellbeing.
UNORINCA works alongside communities to strengthen and rehabilitate water systems while protecting the natural sources that sustain them.
Water as a Collective Right
Access to potable water, sanitation, and hygiene is a fundamental human right and essential for public health, food systems, education, and dignified living.
For the communities of Azama, water is not treated as an isolated resource, but as part of a larger relationship between territory, agriculture, ecology, and collective care.
This work supports:
- access to clean drinking water
- irrigation systems for family agriculture
- watershed and spring protection
- long-term environmental sustainability
- community-managed infrastructure
Rehabilitation of the Azama Water System
UNORINCA has supported the evaluation and rehabilitation of the community water conduction system originating in the Fitara Huaycu watershed.
Technical assessments identified:
- structural deterioration in water capture infrastructure
- instability caused by landslides and erosion
- damaged and collapsed pipeline sections
- pressure irregularities within the system
- risks caused by climate conditions and insufficient protection measures
The studies also confirmed the high quality of the spring water source and proposed improvements centered on long-term sustainability, safer water transport, and direct protection of the natural water source.
Community-Led Infrastructure
The rehabilitation process prioritizes infrastructure that works with the territory rather than against it.
Proposed improvements include:
- protected spring-water collection systems
- filtration and drainage systems
- replacement of deteriorated structures
- safer pressure regulation mechanisms
- reinforced pipeline protection in vulnerable zones
- ecological protection surrounding water sources
This work combines technical engineering knowledge with community-led stewardship and local territorial knowledge.
Environmental Stewardship and Resilience
The protection of water cannot be separated from the protection of territory.
The mountainous terrain surrounding Azama is increasingly affected by soil instability, seasonal rains, and environmental degradation. These conditions directly impact water infrastructure and access for communities.
UNORINCA’s work recognizes that sustainable water systems require long-term environmental care, territorial planning, and collective responsibility.
Protecting water also means protecting the future of community life.
Key Areas of Work
- Spring water protection
- Potable water access
- Irrigation infrastructure
- Watershed stewardship
- Pipeline rehabilitation
- Climate resilience
- Community-led environmental management
- Sustainable territorial planning