This arzticle will explain how irrigation canals helped a certain population in «La achirana del inca», a text that is part of the Tradiciones peruanas, a work written by Ricardo Palma. This story tells how the Inca Pachacutec, out of love for a young woman, helps a population that lived in a desert in Ica and builds them an irrigation canal that was finished in ten days. This canal would help the inhabitants of that place in the production of their crops and have a better quality of life. In addition, the current impact of irrigation canals on society will be evaluated and the importance of architecture in this water project will be explained.