292 Andean basins located above 3,000 meters above sea level, where mining projects and operations are typically situated, tensions related to water access and quality tend to occur with greater frequency and intensity. These tensions are often driven by negative community perceptions of mining activities and by the absence or limited presence of the State in the provision of basic public services. To address these gaps, a bidirectional and often exclusive dynamic has emerged between formal mining companies and local populations. Despite notable advances in water-use efficiency within mining operations, territorial conflicts linked to water access and water-use permits persist. In this context, fostering collaborative spaces that ensure representative participation of local actors becomes critical for dialogue, coordination, and the planning of actions to address territorial water challenges, which are commonly associated with water availability and quality. This situation is further compounded by corporate social responsibility and community relations policies within mining companies that tend to frame social investment as a mechanism for facilitating extractive activities, rather than as development-oriented strategies involving all stakeholders present in the territory. Although approaches have gradually shifted toward improved social intervention practices, traditional mechanisms remain prevalent, often limited to the direct and indirect areas of influence of mining operations or restricted to predefined areas of social interest. Notably, these strategies frequently fail to align with the hydrological dynamics of the territory. In this regard, participatory spaces characterized by legitimacy and broad stakeholder engagement play a critical role due to their potential to manage water-related disputes among users and to agree on functional rules or consensual solutions, thereby making the use of shared resources more predictable and subject to collectively agreed arrangements (Ostrom, 2015). The objective of this article is to analyze the implications of establishing a thematic roundtable as a replicable model of local water governance, framed within the SNGRH, for water management in mining-influenced territories. Specifically, it examines the Mesa Temática de Recursos Hídricos de Ichuña (METRHI) as an institutional strategy to address the disconnect between public water management and local water needs. Through the METRHI experience, the article details the steps, coordination mechanisms, and consensus-building processes established among stakeholders to strengthen IWRM on the local scale. In doing so, METRHI responds to local water-related challenges exacerbated by limited infrastructure to harness existing water resources, potential climate change impacts, and mistrust associated with the introduction of a new mining user in the territory. This article is structured into six sections. The first presents the conceptual framework on water governance, IWRM, local governance, and commons governance. This is followed by a description of the methodology and approach adopted for the recent establishment of METRHI. The subsequent two sections address the territorial and social context of METRHI and outline the steps involved in its creation, composition, and operation. The discussion section then examines the results, with particular emphasis on the role of METRHI within the SNGRH and its integration into Buenaventura’s corporate practices. Finally, the article concludes with conclusions and recommendations aimed at both the public and private sectors.
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