CATIE students’ research on community-based water management featured in international journal

• Students from CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) have made a significant contribution to scientific knowledge with the recent publication of their article

Students from CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) have made a significant contribution to scientific knowledge with the recent publication of their article Bright but flickering lights of sustainable, community-based groundwater supply and management: ASADAS in Costa Rica in the renowned journal Environmental Research Letters. Environmental Research Letters.

The article, co-authored by Mariaclara López Ruiz and Aaron Benhur Castillo Cruz, students of CATIE’s Master’s in Economics, Development, and Climate Change, together with researcher Róger Madrigal Ballestero, coordinator of the Environmental Economics and Sustainable Agribusiness Unit (UEAAS/EfD) of the Center, and Professor Tom Gleeson from the University of Victoria, Canada, analyzes the functioning, challenges, and opportunities of the Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (ASADAS), as water governance models in Costa Rica.

“This article highlights a community-driven approach to water sustainability that goes beyond technologies and individuals. ASADAS are an example of the potential of collective action in water management in the Global South,” commented Madrigal.

For his part, Castillo explained what motivated him to study this community model: “The ASADAS play a vital role by supplying drinking water to about one-third of the country's population. I am motivated to learn about this community management model, where local people are in charge of administering the water service. I find it inspiring to see how people are willing to dedicate time and effort to work together and solve local issues, expecting nothing in return, simply thinking about the common good.”

The publication highlights that despite their positive impact, many ASADAS face challenges such as lack of financial resources, water quality issues, and difficulties with leadership succession.

“I am motivated by the idea that research on the economic and environmental challenges and dynamics in which ASADAS operate can help propose future solutions for these communities and strengthen their sustainability, offering institutions a more complete picture and context for decision-making,” expressed López.

 The study also emphasizes the importance of the emerging polycentric governance approach, in which ASADAS federations are beginning to play a key role in strengthening local capacities.

“We hope that the information and data presented will help draw attention to channel resources and support to these communities, and that the ASADAS can become a success story in community-based water governance, especially considering the climate change and water scarcity scenarios emerging in Central America and LATAM,” added López.

Castillo also highlighted: “I would like people to gain a better understanding of community water management in Costa Rica, to see the importance of this management model, and that in some way the information reflected in this article helps clarify the role of ASADAS and their current status regarding water resource management. With more support, their management could improve, thus achieving greater social well-being.”

The research was supported by the Environment for Development (EfD) program, funded by Swedish Cooperation (Sida) and the National Institute of Forest Science of Korea (NIFoS), recognizing the value of international collaboration on sustainability and water issues.

You can read the full article at the following link: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/adc58d