The water quality of drinking water sources, drinking water treatment plants, distribution system and two beaches at San Cristobal, Galapagos has been analyzed for 3 months within a Participatory Pilot Program. This Program has been run by academics and students from Galapagos Science Center in collaboration with local community, the Galapagos National Park and the Municipality of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Preliminary data reveals the need to establish a long-term monitoring program on the water quality of sources, drinking water and recreational water in order to improve water resources management in this town. The objective of this project is to establish a long-term Water Quality Monitoring Program on the island of San Cristobal. The quality of 18 water samples will continue to be analyzed based on physicalchemical and microbiological parameters for 12 more months, at the Water Quality Laboratory built for this purpose at Galapagos Science Center. This Participatory Program will encourage and strengthen the participation of academics from the Galapagos Science Center, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), the community and local institutions. The establishment of this Participatory Program represents a tangible contribution to the long-term sustainability of wáter resources in San Cristobal, and can serve as a model of collaboration between academia, community and local institutions towards the conservation of water resources in the Galapagos Islands.
