Our Story

‘During the dry season, we tell our children who are thirsty to save the water for the animals and crops.’  These words, shared by the elders, moved Arkan and Marilyn to invite friends from North America to come together to help the Ccotataki community.

For many years the regional Peruvian government had promised to remedy an escalating water shortage but the government has taken no action. Arkan, Marilyn, and their friends raised funds to support a hydrologist and engineer to meet with the community and conduct an assessment of Ccotataki’s water conditions. With the community’s consensus, and combining traditional and science-based knowledge, the engineering team and the community envisioned a plan to move forward. Together the Waters of Ccotataki project team created a four-phase plan rooted in place-based, sustainable solutions in harmony with the land, water, and Ccotataki’s vision for maintaining their traditional life.  

The development plan accounts for anticipated changes in rainfall as a result of climate change.  Ccotataki depends on rainfall to replenish groundwater and irrigate their crops and the dry season is growing longer as global warming increases. Reduced rainfall for the area is expected to continue into the future. Retaining and channeling available water will allow for reliable water access to sustain the community’s indigenous way of life.