10%

Raising Awareness about Caring for Water

GEF/UNDP Zarumilla-Puyango/Tumbes-Catamayo/Chira projects

By IW:LEARN

December 11^th, 2019

It is estimated that by 2050, population growth will increase the demand for water by 55% which will cause great pressure on natural water systems. The future of this resource and humanity depends on finding effective and sustainable solutions for its management and equitable distribution, and achieving this goal depends in large part on adequate practices for water use.

Pampas De Hospital. Photo credits: María José Carvajal and Esteban Valdospinos

This is why the Integrated Water Resources Management Project of the Puyango-Tumbes, Catamayo Chira and Zarumilla transboundary watersheds (ITWRM Project) has developed a communication campaign focused on promoting water culture. The main objective was to raise awareness in order to motivate the change of attitudes and practices for the conservation of water quality and the efficient use of water by residential and agricultural water users.

Various communication materials were developed for the inhabitants of the transboundary area, the officials of institutions linked to IWRM, and the technicians of the municipalities of Tumbes and Piura in Peru. Radio spots, printed materials and water culture trainings were provided for popular and community communicators.

On Saturday mornings the residents of the area could listen to the radio program "The Water Hour" that discussed water-related news, interviewed water management experts, as well as a space for citizen to express their opinions.

Raising Awareness about Caring for Water

Lorena is one of the communicators who was part of the training programs. She is a water culture communication specialist for the Chira-Piura Watershed Technical Secretariat. She believes it is especially important to inform and educate the population on such a vital issue such as water. With regard to her work as a communicator, she explains:

"We now have a culture, specifically in the Chira-Piura Watershed, which is inadequate with respect to water use. With the communication campaign we have been creating these spaces so that through messages the population can become aware of the best use and the value of the water resource."

Part of the problem identified in the area of influence of the ITWRM Project concerned inadequate practices in water management, especially in agricultural and residential use. It was also found that local actors involved in water resources management do not have sufficient information or knowledge for efficient use and conservation of water resources.

Photo credits: María José Carvajal and Esteban Valdospinos

Water management is not only a matter for governing bodies and governmental institutions, it also depends in large part on the people who make use of this resource day by day. Therefore, the work undertaken in the communication campaign is of great importance for creating a positive change in the habits of use of this vital resource.

Taking into account the importance of this process and the main water-related problems that exist in the area, the campaign materials addressed various topics such as:

the importance of not wasting water
its conscious use in irrigation
the strengthening of irrigation organizations
women's participation in water resource management, and
how to avoid contamination of water sources, among others.

In order for a change in the habits of the border inhabitants to be visible, several years of constant communication and education campaigns will surely have to take place. However, this has been a first step that shows that when it comes to water people are willing to learn new behaviors and take care of this resource that is an essential part of their lives.