Isabel Bernal, a university professor, calls Quito a city in constant risk. Here at Quebrada Retraída, we see both the beauty and the potential danger that defines this city. Quito has around 200 quebradas. These waterways stretch over 1300 kilometers.
Quebrada Retraída is among the many that the city monitors closely. These monitoring efforts became more intense after the tragedies of 2022 and 2024. Those aluviones, or debris flows, tragically caused 29 deaths. The neighborhood of La Gasca suffered greatly.
The Empresa de Agua Potable, or Epmaps, is in charge of keeping the quebradas clean. They focus especially on quebradas near the Pichincha volcano. This is where most of the city’s water collectors begin. Epmaps planned to clean the quebradas twice in 2025. They increased cleanings when there were heavy rains. In 2024, they removed 68000 cubic meters of mud and waste. This reduced the impact of potential natural events.
Between January and mid-February 2025, only five cubic meters were removed. This showed the structures were already clean. Still, Ernesto Fonseca of Epmaps admits Quito faces risks from aluviones. The risk depends on rainfall and the capacity of collection structures.
To prepare for future events, Epmaps has built new structures. These structures increase collection capacity. At the El Tejado quebrada, capacity increased from 4000 to 12000 cubic meters. The goal is 20000.
In 2025, the city plans to invest USD 12 million. This will go toward cleaning quebradas, catch basins, and replacing sewers. A consulting firm will determine which quebradas need new collection structures. Construction will only happen where geography allows. These projects should prevent aluviones from hitting the city hard. Works at El Tejado helped in 2024. The aluvión did not cause as much damage as in 2022.
Despite these efforts, Quito’s quebradas face constant damage. This damage includes partial or total fills. People dump sewage, trash, and debris. Talus slopes erode. Roads and houses are built too close.
Professor Carolina Bernal says Quito is always at risk. Urban sprawl is encroaching on the quebradas. These quebradas naturally relieve aluviones. Without space, they will take whatever is in their path.
Christopher Velasco is President of the Association of Risk Management Professionals. He agrees that Quito faces constant risks. These risks include earthquakes, floods, forest fires, and aluviones.
The Municipality must take action. They need containment works in vulnerable areas. These include retaining walls, mud traps, and rain runoff ditches. Actions to restore nature are also needed. These include regular cleaning of quebradas, reforestation, and expanding protected areas. Creating metropolitan parks also helps.
In 2023, the mayor of Quito led a community minga or cleanup. It took place in the Carcelén ecological park. Neighbors helped remove rubble and garbage. They planted trees and ornamental plants. They also fenced the area around the Almeida quebrada.
The city plans to plant over 1000 trees to stabilize the land. These trees will protect the quebrada. The city has also intervened in other quebradas. These include El Tejado, Colegio Pomasqui, San Vicente, and Jatico. Quebrada Retraída is one of these locations.
In 2022, the city invested USD 1.8 million to maintain and clean quebradas. They plan to invest at least USD 3.1 million between 2023 and 2024. The 138 collection structures need risk mitigation and maintenance. These are especially important for those on the slopes of Pichincha. The city is trying to protect its people by protecting its quebradas.