Résumé
Despite of its numerous sources, water is at the heart of numerous conflicts in the Ecuadorian Amazon. An unprecedented drought is exacerbating an already alarming energy crisis, increasing the pressure on this essential resource. In the Tena region (Napo province), which is experiencing rapid population growth and unprecedented mining development, the quality and sustainability of water resources are becoming increasingly problematic. The socio-environmental repercussions are manifold: social conflicts, erosion of biodiversity and major health consequences.The expansion of mining activities, often illegal and small-scale, coupled with the development of tourism and hydroelectric projects, is rapidly transforming the region. These changes are generating tensions between economic stakeholders (miners, farmers, tourism operators) and local populations. Massive withdrawals of water by mining activities are limiting access for local residents, who are also suffering the health impacts of widespread pollution, ranging from turbidity to heavy metal contamination.Our study shows how people in these sacrifice areas, interpret and adapt to the threats posed by extractivism, while assessing the impact on their health and well-being. Using the paradigm of the exposome, understood as all the exposures to which individuals are subjected, we examine how this rapid transformation of territories is jeopardising water resources and subjecting populations to new challenges. The use of this concept allows us to adopt an innovative approach with an interdisciplinary analysis of water-related conflicts, based on ethnographic and participatory research. Using cartographic visualisation tools, we examine community practices in the face of threats posed by water scarcity and contamination, as well as their resilience strategies. Finally, the study highlights the importance of integrating local knowledge into the management of this resource, in order to propose sustainable and equitable solutions.