ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the different water supply sources as well as the municipal water supply systems in the main towns of Puerto Ayora and Bellavista. It elaborates on the problems, the combined influence regarding the lack of data and provides preliminary calculations regarding the supply of water, as well as an estimation of NRW. The chapter explains in detail the perception within the population, as well as the institutional issues that might hinder the optimal management of the water resource. It analyses the current water supply situation in Santa Cruz by integrating the available information in order to arrive at a sustainable balance between demand and supply. The chapter presents a framework to determine the water balance, and portrays preliminary measures for preserving a fragile and unique ecosystem, which may be used in other similar case studies of tourist islands.
