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on glacial meltwater for more than 25 per cent of their
water needs (Buytaert et al., forthcoming). However,
by melting throughout the year and storing water from
the rainy season, glaciers in the Tropical Andes spread
water supply to dry periods, which is important for a
much higher number of people: about 800,000 rely on
it for more than 25 per cent of their water in the driest
months. Currently, during extreme droughts, this
figure rises to more than 5 million people.
Rural communities without sufficient water storage
are particularly vulnerable to the diminishing glacial
compensation effect (Buytaert et al., forthcoming). One
possible solution to increased seasonality and decrease
in precipitation is to expand water storage systems in
cities and in rural communities. For centuries, human-
builtwatermanagement systems have allowedpeople to
thrive in the Andes. This Mamanteos in Huamantanga
in Peru, for example, have been rebuilt to provide
water for the local community as well as improve water
availability for the lower basin, including the city of
Lima. In creating these water management systems, it
is important to acknowledge the possible social conflict
arising from some groups being able to control water
resources. This was observed near Lake Parón in Peru,
where conflict arose between local communities and
the hydropower company due to the latter’s control
over the water flow (Carey et al., 2012).
Laguna Churup, Huascarán National Park, Peru