Water Resources in the Paute Basin of Ecuador; combined use for hydropower, irrigation and consumption.

Pablo Guzman Cardenas,

PhD student within the VLIR-IUC

Project on Water Quality Management

The Paute Basin is situated in the southern Andes of Ecuador

Paute Basin

Equator Quito

Guayaquil

Cuenca

The altitude range in the Paute Basin varies from 4670 and 420 meters above sea level

Paute Molino Dam

Paute Mazar Dam

The range of average temperature in the Paute Basin varies from 25.4 and 4.2 degree Celsius

The range of annual rainfall in the Paute Basin varies from 3400 to 660 mm

3400

660

The paramo ecosystem, in the Cajas National Park, over 3500 meters above sea level, Luspa Lake.

The Negro river, at 500 meters above sea level in the Amazon zone.

The opportunities and problems related to water in the Paute Basin Opportunities to take advantage:

The hydroelectricity potential;

Varied agricultural production;

A very high range of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Problems to face:

The lack of data and knowledge of some hydrological processes;

The unequal distribution of water in space and time;

The need for drinking water and irrigation are increasing;

Water availability is decreasing especially in quality.

Desired situation for water resources in the Paute Basin

Managing the water, based on the understanding of the hydrology, reducing the impact of human activity.

The cooperation Belgium-Ecuador is helping to achieve: 1. 2. 3.

Improvement of data collection

Increase the knowledge of hydrological processes

Close the Gap between research and society

The overall goal of research is achieve a better understanding of: The hydrological response

of Paute Basin;

1. 2. The effects of basin management, climate variability and trends in the water availability.

Conclusion:

The cooperation between Ecuador and Belgium in Paute River Basin, contributes to better knowledge of the water resource, leading to better life quality in the basin.