Assessment of Change Drivers Affecting the Sustainability of Gravity Fed Water Supply in the Alto Beni Watershed of Bolivia
Abstract
In the Alto Beni region of Bolivia, most communities rely on gravity fed systems for their drinking water. Gravity fed drinking water systems are often viewed as a feasible and sustainable method of delivering safe natural spring water to developing communities, because minimal treatment is required and pumping is unnecessary. However, communities in the Alto Beni watershed are finding the need to extend their systems to more distant springs to provide sufficient water. Drivers of change within the watershed that have the potential to affect the sustainability of gravity fed water systems include a 3% population growth rate, an expected 200% increase in agricultural use of land, expansion of water and sanitation coverage (83% and 72% increases in coverage respectively), and a changing climate with a roughly 1.5% projected increase in the mean annual temperature from the 1990s and a 2 to 4% decrease in dry season precipitation by the 2030s. These changes affect both demand and supply from springs. Indicators for these change drivers are evaluated in seventeen watersheds within the Alto Beni. The research presented is the beginning of a monitoring program using low cost methods and local participants to study the impacts of changes on the sustainability of water systems in the region.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008AGUFM.H13G1008F
- Keywords:
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- 1834 Human impacts;
- 1876 Water budgets;
- 1884 Water supply