EXAMINES HOW TO IMPROVE WATER MANAGEMENT AT THE SMALL FARM LEVEL IN ECUADOR. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WERE TO DISCOVER THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF IRRIGATION INSTITUTIONS OPERATING IN THE ANDEAN REGION OF SOUTH AMERICA, TO IDENTIFY THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THEM AND WATER USERS, AND TO IDENTIFY COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF IRRIGATION ORGANIZATIONS WHICH FACILITATE OR INHIBIT THE EFFICIENT USE AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER. PART 1 DESCRIBES THE GEOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, POPULATION, AGRICULTURE, WATER RESOURCES, AND IRRIGATION INSTITUTIONS IN ECUADOR. PART 2 IS AN ANALYSIS OF THE SURVEY DATA FROM 35 ORGANIZATIONS AND 171 PERSONAL INTERVIEWS. COMPARATIVE COSTS OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SYSTEMS, FORMS OF PAYMENTS OF WATER FEES BY USERS, COMPARATIVE USER ATTITUDES, AND LIFE-STYLE, AND COMPARISONS OF DELIVERY INFRASTRUCTURE CHARACTERISTICS ARE DISCUSSED. RECOMMENDS THE KINDS OF ASSISTANCE WHICH A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM COULD OFFER A PRIVATE IRRIGATION INSTITUTION. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS THE TWO QUESTIONNAIRES AND COMPARATIVE READOUT TABLES PREPARED FROM THE STATISTICAL RESULTS OF THE FIELD SURVEYS IN BOLIVIA, CHILE, COLOMBIA, AND ECUADOR.