Guyaquil, Ecuador Flashcards
How many people rely on 1 water source?
2 million
What are the rivers called?
Daule & Agua Clara rivers
What happened pre WW2?
Cocoa and banana exporters paid for their own water supply but then the economy collapsed and they couldn’t cope with massive immigration
Where is the source of the pollution?
- Household waste water goes to Guayas River causing 158 children to have hepatitis
- banana and water treatment plants in 1951 resulted in banana disease and limited water supply
- industrial waste (pesticides, fertilisers, petroleum laden discharge)
Who manages the water?
US Italian company pipe it to the city
Who are the winners?
The gated luxury communities with 24 hour access
How much access do others (not the elite get)?
Provincial areas get access form 6-8 am and 8-10 pm
Slum area get 1 drum shared between 600-800 people
Is there a third party involved?
Water lorries get from water company for $4 per barrel and sell at doorsteps by vendors for $1600 per barrel
What happened when some people didn’t have water?
after 2 days there was e coli contamination
What is the issue unfair?
Subsidises the rich and excludes the poor
Water vendors have the power but still a poor QoL (carry 14 barrels at a tim, wake up early, £3.20 a day for living costs)
There is no other water company available for people to get water from so you can afford to keep prices high and this will not change as it is difficult for other companies to compete as there is no access to other pipelines.
Who sells to the vendors?
The water company OR if you have a borehole and tap to yourself
