Key policies and governance approach

The political, regulatory, and institutional framework of Ecuador has been interested in the regulation and protection of natural resources favoring the protection and management of water resources [8].

The main axis of water management and protection is the Ecuadorian Constitution of 2008, where water is considered a fundamental and inalienable human right.

Legal standards and regulations for the protection of the environment have been defined to serve as control, prevention, reduction and solution strategies for pollution and overexploitation of this resource. Within the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code, the Ecuadorian criminal legal system has criminalized environmental crimes and establishes criminal responsibilities in the case of crimes committed against nature [8].

The Organic Law of Water Resources, Uses and Exploitation of Water (2014) establishes the legal framework to guarantee the human right to water, as well as to regulate and control the authorization, management, preservation, conservation and restoration of water resources, consumption and use of water, comprehensive management and its recovery, in its different phases, forms and physical states in order to guarantee the "sumak kawsay" or good living and the rights of nature established in the Constitution [13].

The Organic Code of Land Management, Autonomy and Decentralization (2015) establishes differentiated and complementary competencies for the management of watersheds [14], [15].

In the pursuit of a better management of resources, institutional modifications have been made. In 2008, the National Secretariat for Water was created, which was merged with the Ministry of the Environment under the name of "Ministry of Environment and Water". But in 2021 by decree it was instituted as “Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition” and it is declared a priority to guarantee the right of access to water for present and future generations, as well as management for the conservation and restoration of water resources [10], [16], [17].

The national and international plans signed by Ecuador have contributed to the advancement of national development in various sectors, including water. The National Secretariat for Planning and Development monitors the efforts, while the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses guarantees the generation of statistical information for the National Development Plan and the priority strategy “Safe Water and Sanitation for All” [18].

Successes and remaining challenges

Due to the application of plans and strategies such as the National Development Plan 2017-2021 “Toda Una Vida” (2017), the Millennium Development Goals (2000) and the 2030 Agenda (2015), Ecuador has begun to ensure the conservation of water, its biodiversity, and the sustainable use of this resource. This nation has made progress in the connectivity of ecosystems, by increasing the areas under conservation status and environmental management at the continental, insular and coastal marine, thus reducing the areas with conservation gaps. Due to the generation of studies, it has been possible to declare coastal management areas, basins, and riverbanks, for their conservation [18]. By the year 2021, an increase in the Water Protection Areas (5 new areas) was achieved, 71 irrigation and drainage projects were made viable, and a total of 61,895 hectares were managed [19].

Despite the progress, Ecuador faces great challenges to comply with the 2030 Agenda and will have to make great efforts to solve the delays and cover the needs related to the objectives of water, sanitation, and hygiene. According to the Sustainability Report, between 2020 and 2021, Ecuador went from 46th to 53rd place (out of 166) in the advancement of the SDGs. Among the goals to be met by 2030, an increase in environmental protection investments has been proposed, which should also serve to ensure the availability and access to water [1].

Initiatives and Development Plans

Since March 2016, Ecuador has been part of a pilot project with the objective of measuring the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals. This program, which includes 12 countries, is carried out with the support of the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program and in coordination with the Joint Monitoring Program for Drinking Water and Sanitation (JMP), a WHO/UNICEF agency [20]. On the subject: Clean Water and Sanitation, this project recorded progress in the availability of water and sanitation, since between 2014 and 2017, there was an increase of 5.5% in water coverage by public network, going from 66.4 % to 71.9% [18], [21], [22].

The "Mission Water and Sanitation for All" project aims to achieve universal and equitable access to safe water and sanitation, with quality, quantity, and continuity, with drinking water and sanitation as the main lines of action. For 2018, a first basket of projects that would impact 62 cantons was approved, of which 57% are aimed at rural areas [18].

Goals and Ambitions

The main goal of the National Water Quality Strategy is improving and protecting the quality of water resources, ecosystems, and the quality of life of the general population [10], [23].

The goals set by the Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition in relation to water for the period from 2022 to 2025 include the development of a New Water Resources Law that guarantees the collective rights of social groups; the expansion of Water Protection Areas to achieve the macro goal of 284 thousand ha in 2025; increase potential irrigation and drainage area to 11,461 ha with technical feasibility; and contribute to the creation of 7 Water Funds by 2025. The ministry is also in charge of the National Irrigation and Drainage Plan, with the goal to reach 5 million irrigators. The National Drinking Water and Sanitation Plan is intended to cover the 221 cantons. They are also preparing the Launch of the National Plan for the Paramo Ecosystem, which will seek to guarantee a flow of 2.6 million litres of water per second for consumption and productive activities [24], [25].