(Jan. 30, 2014 - by Ruth Pike) For water technician Efrain Morocho, coming from the small Quichua community of Miraflores in Ecuador’s Andean region, presenting at an international conference was a new experience.

It was also the first time that the 7^th International Perspectives on Water Resources and the Environment (IPWE 2014) conference was held in the Western Hemisphere, taking place at a large hotel in Quito, Ecuador, Jan. 8-10.

The event was organized by the Environmental and Water Resources Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE-EWRI) and the Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles de Pichincha (Association of Civil Engineers of Pichincha) together with the Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles del Ecuador (Ecuadorian Association of Civil Engineers). HCJB Global (now Reach Beyond) helped facilitate some key aspects of the event.

The congress offered a new perspective on water and the environment. “Maybe more so than other conferences, this conference had a focus on water supply and sanitation,” said Philip Burgi, a consultant in hydraulics and water resources engineering who served on the conference committee.

More than 170 participants from 22 countries took part in the event which was particularly significant for Ecuadorians.

“The Ecuadorians we spoke to were extremely excited that ASCE had decided to hold their conference in Ecuador for the first time,” said Burgi.

“It opened up new doors for the 10 Ecuadorian students who took part,” added Reach Beyond engineer Bruce Rydbeck who was also on the conference steering committee. “A majority of the participants were Ecuadorians. It’s so important that the professionals from this country be recognized.”

Morocho was one such professional. Twelve years ago, after Reach Beyond had worked with his community on a clean-water system, he was taken on as an apprentice. Today he works for the mission as a water technician, helping with water projects in remote communities nationwide.

Morocho presented a paper on sustainable clean water systems in rural areas of Ecuador, explaining the process of protecting springs and highlighting the value of strong, community-led management.

Other members of Reach Beyond also presenting papers at the conference included Stephen Peacock from the mission’s Technology Center in Elkhart, Ind., along with Rydbeck, César Cortez, Stephen Pike, Martin Henrich and Wim de Groen from Vozandes Community Development in Ecuador.

Martin Harrison of Reach Beyond-UK also participated in the conference, as did former Ecuadorian employee Tannia Lascano who presented a paper on participatory learning.

The conference was conducted in both Spanish and English with Ecuadorian missionary Nancy Cortez coordinating a team of volunteer interpreters, including missionaries.

The international congress kicked off with a session on Ecuadorian water policies and multipurpose projects led by a representative from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Water (SENAGUA). Other keynote sessions included an overview of the Panama Canal expansion and an analysis of the impact of climate change on glacial watersheds in Peru.

Papers presented during the conference covered a range of topics within the field of water resources and the environment with five technical tracks running each day.

The conference also provided numerous networking opportunities during meals, coffee breaks and cultural events. “I think there was a real good spirit of camaraderie,” said Burgi.

Rydbeck’s wife, Cherith, organized the social agenda for delegates, including a tour of colonial Quito, a performance by the Orquesta Infanto Juvenil de Rumiñahui (Rumiñahui Youth Orchestra) and a closing reception with live Ecuadorian folk music.

Delegates were offered tours of water treatment plants in Ecuador, including the Bellavista Water Treatment Facility and the Mica Water Intakes on Mount Antisana that provides water to the city of Quito. Participants also visited the Mica lagoon—a prime spot to view Andean condors—which stores 24 million cubic meters (6.3 billion gallons) of water from the snow-capped mountain.

After the conference, Rydbeck took a small group of delegates and other visitors to tour Reach Beyond’s water projects in the mountain communities of Achullay, Yanacocha, Daldal and Lupaxi Chico. They also saw a mobile medical clinic in action at Daldal where local residents were delighted to meet one of their project’s financial donors.

“Our driving ambition is to build some healthy international interaction and learning within the professional sphere,” Rydbeck said, reflecting on the overall value of the conference. “I feel that this strongly expresses the Lord’s desires (Revelation 7:9) and is an ethic needed. My personal experience is that interesting opportunities for witness and service open up as we follow this path.”

 Sources: Reach Beyond, IPWE, Mica Water Intakes