master thesis. encuentro azul. 2023

Encuentro Azul is a project that addresses the problem of drought in Petorca, located near Valparaíso, close to the Andes Cordillera. One of the main causes of drought in the valley is the decrease in rainfall. The Petorca River, which once carried water, has dried up, profoundly affecting the habits and daily life of the inhabitants.

Another major factor is political. Two aspects are central: the neo-liberal regulation of water and the lack of rural planning. The Chilean Constitution of 1980, established during the dictatorship, defines water as a commodity that can be sold. During the same period, the Código de Aguas separated water rights from land ownership, enabling situations where landowners may have no water, and water rights holders may have no land. This framework facilitated resource extraction and had an irreversible impact on the territory. In Petorca, it allows landowners to extract underground water for intensive avocado monoculture.

The state is legally obliged to supply 100 liters of water per day per inhabitant, but this obligation is rarely met due to the lack of rural planning. Most water infrastructure is privately managed, leaving residents to organize their own distribution systems. The APR (Agua Potable Rural, or Rural Drinking Water System) is responsible for ensuring water supply in rural areas. Villages’ vulnerability to drought varies depending on the type of water supply, with many still relying on water trucks and lacking canalization systems to collect wastewater. This gap in rural planning places significant stress on the inhabitants, who continue to demand better water management.

The Master’s thesis provided an opportunity to explore the interactions between these components and propose a new approach. The project envisions creating a new public water source by collecting village wastewater and purifying it through wetlands and other infrastructure—a concept called “Communing the Water.”

The project is also conceived as a social act, aiming to redefine the meaning of “public” and make the availability of water visible. Through a participatory process, the community can actively engage in water management, learn the techniques involved, and ultimately take responsibility for future water purification efforts.

Cianotipia. Water purification plants. Impression by the autor.

The prototype of this project will be in Petorca, the village. The project offers the possibility of reusing the water in Petorca and creating a reserve for emergencies. The project is located near the center of Petorca. The water purification area is an educational center for water for pupils in Petorca.

The first shelter for the supply is located near the water intakes. Between the first and second shelters, the water is filtered and flows through the wetland. The second shelter offers various infrastructures to make the water drinkable. The last shelter is an education center where students can learn about water purification.

The construction technique used for the shelters is called quinchas. This is a form of Chilean vernacular construction that is typical of the central and northern parts of the country. It is built from bamboo, clay, and wood. The wood is used as the basic structure of the wall. A system of panels made of bamboo and clay is then inserted into the frame.