Protecting A Vital Resource Under Pressure

The Abancay valley in southern Peru is known as the “valley of eternal spring.” Its upper basin collects and stores rainwater for the city of Abancay. In the Andes, evidence of climate change is everywhere — including in Abancay, which is coping with the retreat of the Ampay glacier, increased rainfall intensity, more frequent droughts and higher temperatures.

Abancay, a small city of 73,000 people, knows that water is a precious resource that must be used sustainably. But, as in many cities, public services, economic growth and infrastructure development cannot keep pace with urbanization.

In light of these challenges, the Water for Abancay and Communities project was launched to ensure the long-term availability of water in the valley, equitable access and sustainable use in the face of climate variability. The project specifically targeted the population of Abancay and the rural communities of the Mariño micro-watershed, which supplies 100% of the water used by the Abancay service provider.

Over the course of four years, numerous initiatives worked to increase local capacity for resilient water use and management. These included a sustainable mechanism for investment in natural infrastructure, optimizing water demand, and creating a consolidated multi-stakeholder governance structure. The ample lessons learned from these initiatives are now ready to be replicated in other cities in the country.

Strengthening the water supply through natural infrastructure

The implementation of water management and ecosystem conservation practices is not new in the upper Mariño micro-basin, where communities have long built q’ochas (small water reservoirs with earthen and gabion dams), restored grassland and conserved high-Andean Queñua forests. However, it was necessary to strengthen people’s technical knowledge and skills, while laying the groundwork for a communal vision with a long-term outlook. Through the participation, involvement and promotion of actions through the mechanisms for the retribution of ecosystem services, such as water regulation, the foundations were laid for a better water supply. These actions included:

• Reforestation of 56 hectares, improving water (and soil) retention.
• Community conservation agreements covering 449 hectares, with a focus on water security.
• Fencing 2,209 hectares of pastureland to reduce soil degradation by livestock treading.
• Expanding water storage capacity in q’ochas, benefiting both upstream and downstream users, particularly during dry seasons.

Data-driven water management

One of the main challenges in the Mariño micro-watershed is balancing water use among urban consumers, farmers and rural communities. Changing rainfall distribution patterns requires a rapid shift from managing water abundance to water scarcity with precision and resilience. With droughts becoming more frequent, fair and sustainable water distribution requires reliable data. To address this, the project updated the hydrological balance, providing crucial information for decision-making on water allocation, and minimizing conflicts between municipal water services, irrigation users and communities.

A hydrological monitoring system was also strengthened in the Rontococcha lake and watershed, an area on which 30% of the city depends, to support a better understanding of natural infrastructure’s role in water availability, regulation and data-driven decision-making on ecosystem management. Water utility personnel, universities and local communities received training to operate the monitoring system. In the long run, it will enhance understanding of water-related ecosystem services, their link to the climate, and their impact on urban, agricultural and livestock water supply. The system is accessible online via the Municipal Water and Sanitation Service Company (EMUSAP)’s website.

Optimized water demand

A key pillar of the project focused on enhancing water service efficiency in Abancay. The water utility EMUSAP Abancay partnered with the private companies comprising the CONHYDRA - HIDROPACÍFICO consortium to conduct a comprehensive water demand analysis around usage and losses, leading to:

• A city-wide water demand management action plan.
• Specialized training in climate-resilient water management.
• A strengthened operational structure within EMUSAP to manage water infrastructure efficiently.

Engaging water users — both urban residents and farmers — was a priority of the project. Initially, demand optimization, whereby water is used more efficiently to reduce waste and ensure sustainable use, only included urban consumers. Irrigation users (e.g., farmers) were considered, but they were not formally included in the micro-watershed management scheme and discussions on the basin’s future. Many farmers also viewed EMUSAP as a competitor for water resources.

Farmers were given a voice through the project with the creation of three groups that represented different users along the watershed (upstream, midstream and downstream). Training sessions and field activities, including irrigation management contests, fostered collaboration and improved understanding of water conservation. Through these activities, downstream farmers became aware of the work being done by the communities in the upper part of the basin to secure the water supply and have come to understand their role in water management through responsible and optimized use, including contributing labor to the construction of q'ochas upstream.

A study was also conducted to measure the volume of unbilled water (the amount lost due to clandestine installations and leaks in the system). Unbilled water reaches 32% in Abancay, compared to a national average of 41%. This assessment led to the development of the EMUSAP Abancay Optimized Master Plan (2025-2029), a roadmap for improving drinking water service efficiency.

Measuring water security: A holistic approach

The project also worked with the National Superintendence of Sanitation Services, a public institution that regulates the quality of service provided by drinking water companies, to develop the Service Provider Water Security Index. The index measures the capacity of the provider to guarantee a safe water supply to the population and to manage the risks associated with an increased demand for water resources, climate variability and extreme events.

The development of the index began with a needs assessment of water management in target areas, including its cycle, scope and key stakeholders. It laid out clear definitions for water security and the purpose of its measurement — considering factors such as scale, beneficiary populations and sectoral water use. Finally, an analytical framework was established to assess water security through a set of indicators, such as the capacity of the water utility to manage risks from extreme events and the projected (future) water availability per capita. These indicators capture both physical aspects of water resources and their management factors related to access and usage, helping to identify the key drivers of water security changes.

So far the index has been applied in two Andean cities, Abancay and Ayacucho, and its application is being scaled up to other cities across Peru. Drought and conflicts over access to water are the most common threats to water security in the cities studied. In response, local stakeholders must focus on conserving existing water sources while also exploring new sources for the future. Additionally, expanding production capacity is seen as important, but reducing infrastructure vulnerability — particularly water losses during distribution — is even more critical.

Scaling up best practices for water security

The successes and lessons from the Water for Abancay and Communities project are now shaping a broader project: Water for Andean Cities of Peru. This scaled effort, in collaboration with the Peruvian Ministry of Housing, Construction, and Sanitation, will integrate climate resilience, risk management and efficient water use into national policies.

Applying the index in other cities in Peru will help identify the dimensions with the greatest impact on water security. By expanding these best practices nationwide, the project aims to contribute to sustainable water management for urban and rural populations alike, ensuring that communities in the Andes can continue to thrive in an era of climate uncertainty.​​​​

About the Authors

Marc Monnet is a Junior Advisor for Climate Change and Water at Helvetas.

Luis Alban, Project Coordinator Water for Abancay and Communities at Helvetas Peru.

Rocío Perez is a Program Communications Officer at Helvetas Peru.

Additional reading

• Explore the water route from the source to Abancay with virtual reality: Go on an immersive journey through the Peruvian Andes by following in the footsteps of water resource guardians and seeing the challenges in daily use.