ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the Galapagos Islands in detail, as well as the creation of the different sources of water for the various islands. It explains the problems of water scarcity in this Archipelago, and how this fact has been addressed so far. The chapter elaborates on the water supply issues on the island of Santa Cruz, the hub of tourism of this group of islands. It introduces to tourism and local population exponential growth and the impact it has had on natural resources, especially on water. The chapter summarizes research done so far on water supply and water demand in the previous years, and reveals the lack of data on this topic. The recognition of the ecological uniqueness and conservation of Galapagos has enhanced the tourist activities significantly, becoming undoubtedly one of the biggest and fastest growing businesses within the islands. In 1998, the Special Law of Galapagos was created with the aim of controlling the immigration to these islands.
