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Potential contributions of pre-Inca infiltration infrastructure to Andean water security

Author

Listed:
  • Boris F. Ochoa-Tocachi

    (Imperial College London
    Regional Initiative for Hydrological Monitoring of Andean Ecosystems
    Institute for Applied Sustainability Research)

  • Juan D. Bardales

    (Regional Initiative for Hydrological Monitoring of Andean Ecosystems
    Gerencia de Regulación Tarifaria)

  • Javier Antiporta

    (Regional Initiative for Hydrological Monitoring of Andean Ecosystems
    Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina)

  • Katya Pérez

    (Regional Initiative for Hydrological Monitoring of Andean Ecosystems
    Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina)

  • Luis Acosta

    (Regional Initiative for Hydrological Monitoring of Andean Ecosystems
    Gerencia de Regulación Tarifaria)

  • Feng Mao

    (University of Birmingham)

  • Zed Zulkafli

    (Universiti Putra Malaysia)

  • Junior Gil-Ríos

    (Regional Initiative for Hydrological Monitoring of Andean Ecosystems
    Gerencia de Regulación Tarifaria)

  • Oscar Angulo

    (Regional Initiative for Hydrological Monitoring of Andean Ecosystems
    Gerencia de Regulación Tarifaria
    Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú)

  • Sam Grainger

    (University of Leeds)

  • Gena Gammie

    (Forest Trends)

  • Bert De Bièvre

    (Regional Initiative for Hydrological Monitoring of Andean Ecosystems
    Fondo para la Protección del Agua)

  • Wouter Buytaert

    (Imperial College London
    Regional Initiative for Hydrological Monitoring of Andean Ecosystems)

Abstract

Water resources worldwide are under severe stress from increasing climate variability and human pressures. In the tropical Andes, pre-Inca cultures developed nature-based water harvesting technologies to manage drought risks under natural climatic extremes. While these technologies have gained renewed attention as a potential strategy to increase water security, limited scientific evidence exists about their potential hydrological contributions at catchment scale. Here, we evaluate a 1,400-year-old indigenous infiltration enhancement system that diverts water from headwater streams onto mountain slopes during the wet season to enhance the yield and longevity of downslope natural springs. Infiltrated water is retained for an average of 45 d before resurfacing, confirming the system’s ability to contribute to dry-season flows. We estimate that upscaling the system to the source-water areas of the city of Lima can potentially delay 99 × 106 m3 yr−1 of streamflow and increase dry-season flows by 7.5% on average, which may provide a critical complement to conventional engineering solutions for water security.

Suggested Citation

  • Boris F. Ochoa-Tocachi & Juan D. Bardales & Javier Antiporta & Katya Pérez & Luis Acosta & Feng Mao & Zed Zulkafli & Junior Gil-Ríos & Oscar Angulo & Sam Grainger & Gena Gammie & Bert De Bièvre & Wout, 2019. "Potential contributions of pre-Inca infiltration infrastructure to Andean water security," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(7), pages 584-593, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:2:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1038_s41893-019-0307-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0307-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Glenn Dale & Gabriela Dotro & Puneet Srivastava & David Austin & Stacy Hutchinson & Peter Head & Ashantha Goonetilleke & Alexandros Stefanakis & Ranka Junge & José A. Fernández L. & Vanessa Weyer & Wa, 2021. "Education in Ecological Engineering—a Need Whose Time Has Come," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.

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