Hill Dam Design to Improve Water Use in Rural Areas—Case Study: Sacachún, Santa Elena

The Sacachún commune in Ecuador currently faces a lack of water for its agricultural development; this reduces possibilities socio-economic development and causes migration to urban areas. This research proposes presa colinar (hill dam) design that uses ancestral knowledge classic engineering techniques promote use during the dry season semi-arid regions. methodology consisted of: (i) systematic compilation structures used planting harvesting Ibero-American; (ii) selecting an appropriate place build hill dam; (iii) dam’s body design; (iv) creating proposal use. results helped define good location dam implementation. In addition, 10 m high 40 wide earthen was designed, with storage capacity 114,341 m3, extending agriculture 7.5 ha through polyculture system six different plants. embankment has cofferdam located downstream, which provides stability static pseudo-static conditions. slopes have 2:1 ratio, spillway channel filter drain were dimensioned protect dam.