With the aim of strengthening inter-institutional cooperation on sustainable water resource management, researchers from ESPOL’s Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) held a working meeting with MSc. Manolo López Heredia, manager of the Milagro Municipal Public Water and Sewerage Company (EPAMIL), who attended accompanied by members of his technical team.
The purpose of the meeting was to identify areas of common interest and establish avenues for collaboration that will contribute to the development of the ECU7010 project, led by MSc. Daniel Garcés León and funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The initiative seeks to strengthen national capacities for the application of isotopic techniques in the study of the Chobo aquifer through the implementation of a comprehensive groundwater monitoring system. As part of this work, the project involves characterizing the aquifer’s hydrogeological, hydrochemical, and isotopic properties to understand its recharge processes and identify potential sources of agricultural and industrial contamination, thereby generating scientific information that contributes to more sustainable water resource management and the strengthening of the drinking water supply.
During the meeting, the main challenges related to water resource management in the Milagro canton were analyzed, and areas for joint work were identified to strengthen the project’s development. Among the agreements reached were the exchange of technical information, the identification of strategic locations for monitoring campaigns, support for field activities, and the coordination of efforts to deepen understanding of the Chobo aquifer and facilitate the generation of scientific information for decision-making.
The project’s research team is made up of researchers from various national and international institutions. Representing the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) are Paola Calle Delgado, Ph.D. (co-director), Johanna Zambrano Anchundia, M.Sc., Tomás Vitvar, Ph.D., Priscila Valverde Armas, M.Sc., Karla Villamar Marazita, M.Sc., Washington Pincay Musso, Eng., and Tatiana Conde Macías, Eng.
Representing the Ikiam Amazon Regional University (IKIAM) is Jorge Celi, Ph.D.; from the Agrarian University of Ecuador (UAE) is Isabel Silva Aspiazu, M.Sc.; and finally, from the University of Cuenca, is Patricio Crespo Sánchez, Ph.D.
At ESPOL, we believe that research achieves its greatest value when it is conducted in collaboration with those who have firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing the region. For this reason, partnerships between academia, public institutions, and international organizations are essential for developing evidence-based solutions that address real-world problems.
We hope that this collaborative effort will help protect water resources, strengthen the security of the drinking water supply, and have a positive impact on the quality of life in these communities.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
