The neighborhoods where water arrived by truck: the story of the community aqueducts that still survive in the hillsides

Available options

In Medellín, the EPM network covers the vast majority of the city, but on the hillsides of comunas 1 (Popular), 2 (Santa Cruz), 3 (Manrique), 8 (Villa Hermosa) and in the corregimientos of Santa Elena and San Cristóbal there are sectors where water does not arrive through formal pipes. There the liquid is resolved with hoses, tanks and, above all, with community organization. In this verified Malokal guide you will find updated prices; use the interactive cards for each place on malokal.com to check the safe map by neighborhood (Locals vs. Foreigners), live holiday schedules and book directly via WhatsApp.

The first option is the community aqueduct. It works as a users' association that captures water from a stream or spring, conducts it by gravity, stores it in tanks and distributes it by gravity to the houses. Legally, in Medellín these systems are organized as non-profit community organizations, often under the figure of community action boards or subscriber associations. La Carrera (Comisión de Regulación de Agua Potable) has legal opinions that recognize their existence, and the Red Nacional de Acueductos Comunitarios de Colombia groups these organizations throughout the country.

The second option is supply by water truck. In sectors where there is no network or community aqueduct, neighbors buy water from tanker trucks that climb the hills. It is the most expensive option and the one that has decreased the most, but it still exists in upper parts of Santa Elena and in some sectors of comuna 8.

The third is the use of cisterns and individual storage tanks, which are not a water source but are the infrastructure that allows survival between one water truck trip and another.

Updated costs

Water prices in these systems vary greatly depending on the neighborhood, the source and the organization. In October 2026, a potable water truck on the hillsides of Medellín can cost between $80,000 and $150,000 COP per trip, depending on the volume and the height of the sector. It is a reference, not a fixed rate: consult directly with the driver or the company.

In community aqueducts, the monthly rate is usually much lower than EPM's, precisely because it does not include the same infrastructure costs. Many associations charge a fixed monthly fee that can range between $5,000 and $20,000 COP per household, although in some systems with water treatment the value goes up. That money is destined for tank maintenance, chlorine purchase, pipe repair and payment of the plumber or "acueducto" who checks for leaks.

The real cost, however, is not only monetary. Community water management demands time: meetings, cleaning shifts at the intake points, routes to detect leaks. That work is not billed, but it sustains the system.

Estimated times

If you need water by truck, the waiting time depends on demand and the road. In the dry season (December to March and July to August), the wait can be one to three days. In the rainy season, the service speeds up because the springs and streams increase their flow.

To connect to a community aqueduct, the process is not immediate. First you must verify if the home is within the system's coverage area, then request joining the association, and in many cases wait for flow availability. That procedure can take from one week to several months, depending on the organization and the time of year.

The construction of a new community aqueduct, when none exists, is a process of months or years: it requires studies of the source, environmental permits, network design and community work shifts to install pipes. None of this is resolved at a service window.

Practical tips

If you live in a neighborhood with a community aqueduct, the first thing is to identify who administers it. Ask at the community action board or at the neighborhood store: there is almost always a leader or a subscriber association with legal status. Ask for the regulations and the receipt: an organized system should have them.

If the water arrives cloudy or with sediment, do not consume it without boiling it. Many community aqueducts treat with chlorine, but not all. Water quality is one of the biggest challenges of these systems, and the solution is not only technical: it involves training and demanding support from the authorities.

If you want to get to know a community aqueduct without falling into extractive tourism, do not arrive with a camera and invasive questions. Offer your time in a cleaning shift, buy at the neighborhood store, and if you are going to write or record, ask the association for permission and share the material with them before publishing it. Water here is defended with work, not with likes.

Corregimiento de Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a corregimiento of Medellín located to the east, going up via the road to Las Palmas. There, community aqueducts coexist that supply veredas and sectors where the EPM network does not reach. Management is done by subscriber associations that capture water from local streams. If you are going to walk through the area, keep in mind that the water from these systems is for human consumption and you should not use it to wash boots or fill bottles without permission.

Corregimiento de San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal is to the west of Medellín, going up via the road to the sea. It is a territory of hillsides and streams where community aqueducts have a long history. Many families have been organized for decades to bring water to their homes. If you live in or visit the corregimiento, ask about the aqueduct association of your vereda: there is almost always a monthly meeting open to users.

Red Nacional de Acueductos Comunitarios de Colombia

This network articulates at the national level the organizations that group associations, networks and federations of community aqueducts. It is not an entity of Medellín, but its work is key to making these systems visible. If you want to understand the legal framework and the struggles for recognition of community water management, it is worth reviewing their materials. It does not have a physical headquarters in the city, so do not look for it as a place to visit: it is an organizational process.

Frequently asked questions

Is a community aqueduct legal in Medellín?

Yes. La Carrera has legal opinions that recognize community aqueducts, and many subscriber associations have legal status. They are not "informal" systems in the sense of illegal: they are community organizations that provide a service in areas where the formal network does not reach.

Is the water from a community aqueduct potable?

Not always. Some systems treat with chlorine and meet potability parameters; others # The best thing is to ask the association if the water receives treatment and, if you are not sure, boil it before consuming it.

How can I support a community aqueduct without being from the neighborhood?

By offering time in cleaning shifts, buying at local businesses, and if you are going to document the system, asking the association for permission and sharing the material with them. You can also donate supplies such as chlorine or pipes, but always coordinating with the organization so as not to impose needs.

If you live in a neighborhood with a community aqueduct, tell us how yours works. Your testimony helps make this reality visible.