Challenges to Water Management in Ecuador: Legal Authorization, Quality Parameters, and Socio-Political Responses

Ecuador has historically had a unique experience with water law, management, and policy as result of its constitutional declaration access human right. In this paper, the legal, environmental, economic, social aspects related to management in are analyzed. doing so, incorporation local governance structures such users’ associations (WUAs) characterized within national model authorization under SENAGUA, Ecuador’s former agency, highlighting importance integrated for meeting country’s geographically environmentally diverse needs. Additionally, role anthropogenic activities crude oil production, artisanal small-scale gold (ASGM) mining, agriculture, sewage discharge, domestic practices evaluated context implementation environmental quality concerns. Finally, individual community-level responses explored, specific perceptions rights adoption coping strategies. these ways, multi-faceted analysis Ecuadorian shaped by engagement, geographic diversity, influential economic sectors is developed. This study highlights need increased financial legislative support around extractive polluting industries ASGM, treatment long-term safety sustainability Ecuador. efforts educate industry-specific workers, boards, individuals about potential solutions water-related challenges will help improve efficiency current legislation. underscores additional research Ecuador, well social, factors that influence security outcomes country.