[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||4px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Written By: Sergio Ruiz Cordova, AUWRC<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Global Water Watch had an impactful<\/span> year in 2024, with trips to Peru and Chile. Learn about the work being done over the past year. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”48px” custom_padding=”||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n What is Global<\/span> Water Watch?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Global Water Watch is a voluntary network of affiliated community-based water monitoring groups across the world. The goal of GWW, much like Alabama Water Watch<\/a>, is to foster watershed stewardship through citizen volunteer monitoring of surface waters to improve water quality and public health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Although GWW has representatives all over the globe, it is housed in part in the Auburn University Water Resources Center. You can find their newest blog posts here.<\/a> Sergio Ruiz-Cordova is the Associate Director of Global Water Watch, you can find his information here.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/MonitoreoAguas_3-scaled.jpg” alt=”Example of stream bank erosion” title_text=”MonitoreoAguas_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Sergio Ruiz-Cordova and Global Water Watch partners in Chile trained 100 water monitors over the course of 2 years. Photo credit: Felipe Zanotti.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”48px” custom_padding=”0px||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Global Water Watch in Peru<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In May of 2024, GWW friends gathered in Peru. On May 21st, GWW-Mexico representative Arlette Fuentes met Sergio in Lima to fly together to Cuzco. There they attended a series of activities with Peruvian environmental vigilantes and monitors. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cuzco Water Monitoring Session\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n While in Cuzco, Arlette and Sergio led a community-based water monitoring session as part of the \u201cSchool of Environmental Monitors\u201d, \u201cPachamama Amachayta Awasun <\/i>(Weaving Protection for Mother Earth)\u201d<\/i>. This school strives to strengthen the capacities of female community members of Cusco and Apur\u00edmac. They gather to share and receive theoretical and practical modules related to community-based environmental monitoring and surveillance<\/a>. It is remarkable to witness that locals from the native communities possess an unsurmountable ancestral knowledge about their territory and their communities, while describing what they know or have seen, unfolding every detail of almost everything within their territories. Furthermore, it is important to strengthen the capabilities of the population, especially women who stay in their territories and guarantee food for families despite any adversity they may encounter. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/gwwPer01.jpg” alt=”Example of stream bank erosion” title_text=”gwwPer01″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Sergio speaking at the School of Environmental Monitors, Pachamama <\/span>Amachayta<\/span> <\/span>Awasun<\/span> (Weaving Protection for Mother Earth<\/span>)<\/span> in Cuzco, Peru.<\/span> Photo credit: Photo credit: Arlette Fuentes.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u00a0Espinar Water Monitoring Session\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Two days after Cuzco the GWW team traveled to Espinar, a town at about 3,900 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, to conduct bacteriological monitoring, water chemistry monitoring, and biomonitoring certifications for locals. Local community members have committed to becoming environmental monitors and keep track of the well-being of the environment, as well as the dissemination of results from their water monitoring. For the last forty years they have lived with mining activities and their consequences<\/a>; therefore, they promote dialogue among local actors to keep peace in their territories, and the need for the implementation of more environmentally friendly mining activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-30px||-75px|||” custom_padding=”1px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||1px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/gwwPer02.jpg” alt=”Example of stream bank erosion” title_text=”gwwPer02″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Community members becoming water monitors in Espinar, Apurimac, Peru.<\/span><\/span> Photo credit: Arlette Fuentes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Puno Water Monitoring Sessions\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0The GWW team then traveled to Coata in the Puno region where they conducted certifications and recertifications in all three types of GWW water monitoring for students and other volunteers. The next day, GWW-Chile representatives joined the gathering, as well as representatives from a Bolivian organization interested in implementing GWW water monitoring in their country. <\/span><\/p>\n The larger GWW team traveled to the city of Chucuito where the V National Meeting of Environmental Vigilantes and Monitors was held. At this event, representatives from Puno, Cusco, Apur\u00edmac, Cajamarca, La Libertad, Ayacucho and Lima provinces gathered to reflect and encourage action in the face of the current environmental and political challenges. With the slogan, \u201cour water and our lives have more value than minerals\u201d, the meeting started on May 29 with an analysis of the current situation of community environmental surveillance and monitoring, highlighting the imposition of the energy transition fueled by the mining of the Global South countries. These activities have a negative impact on health and territories, due to extractive activities that do not respect human rights or the environment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/gwwPer03.jpg” alt=”Example of stream bank erosion” title_text=”gwwPer03″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Community members becoming water monitors in <\/span>Coata<\/span>, Puno, Peru<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> Photo credit: Arlette Fuentes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/gwwPer04.jpg” alt=”Example of stream bank erosion” title_text=”gwwPer04″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Learning and sharing about local watersheds in <\/span>Chucuito<\/span>, Puno, Peru<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> Photo credit: Arlette Fuentes<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”48px” custom_padding=”0px||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Global Water Watch in Chile<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Laja\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In October 2024, GWW returned to Chile to help GWW expand to more regions in the country.\u00a0 Chilean GWW trainers D\u00e9bora, Esteban, and Oscar traveled with Sergio to conduct a classroom session with questions and answers about the three types of water monitoring that GWW promotes. The team recertified a dozen students, a teacher, and several community members who have been actively monitoring three locations in Laja.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tom\u00e9\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n After Laja, the team traveled to Tom\u00e9.\u00a0 The Municipality of Tom\u00e9 has been a model collaborator and sponsor of GWW trainings; from the first certification training in 2022 GWW-Chile 2022<\/b><\/a>, to the\u00a0 GWW-Chile 2023<\/b><\/a> when municipality employees and local teachers completed certifications in water monitoring.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n