Culture of water in the Monteverde zone

The purpose of this study is to understand perceptions of water use and availability in the Monteverde Zone, Costa Rica. Monteverde is a world renowned ecotourism destination that was founded on ideals of conservation and the region receives plentiful rainfall throughout the majority of the year. Despite this, the region frequently experiences water shortages and there is concern that the rapid growth of tourism may exacerbate water availability issues in the future. Within this context, we documented water availability and water use practices by households and hotels, explored perceptions of the impact of tourism on water resources in the region, and investigated the economic and social impacts of water scarcity in the community. We used a mixed methods approach, including participant observation, photo documentation, and structured and semi-structured interviews. We analyzed quantitative data with SPSS and used a grounded theory approach in the analysis of qualitative data. Our results confirm what has previously been identified as a “culture of water use” in the Monteverde Zone: that water is perceived as an unlimited natural resource due to its abundance in the region. Interviewees suggested the need for greater government and community support, that hotels should adapt new conservation technology, and more effective organization, oversight, and support from the government would be beneficial.