Community Water Projects
Rotary Club of Bahia de Caraquez and Eagle River
Club Participation
Our club's goal is to raise $5,250 with 100% member participation.
The Cause
Bahía de Caráquez is on the coast in Manabí province. #1 Proposed water projects are 50K to the northeast.
40% of Ecuadorians do not have access to safe water. Some communities rely on unsecured transfer of contaminated water from seepage pits or contaminated creeks. Others purchases water from filthy tank trucks.
Assess community needs--observing while walking around, listening to residents, identifying potential water sources, engineering challenges, collecting demographics, checking-out schools, health, etc.
Assessing Community Needs
Improving The Water Development Model
Replicating and continuously improving a comprehensive water development model.
Assessment involves continuous conversations and documentation of community environments.
Conduct multiple community meetings to gather data and input, review ideas, hear concerns and suggestions, and generate confidence among potential collaborators and beneficiaries.
Purchase new water tanks placed at elevated locations to create pressure. Community initiative acquires additional tanks to increase storage capacity.
Local water board organizes community members for digging and covering pipeline trenches. Designated system operators receive technical training.
Customers connect to the system with a water meter. Water board establishes consumption rates and begins collections. Owners extend the pipeline into the house--sinks, showers, toilets and septic systems.
Training and Sustainability
Visit project sites regularly to monitor development and adjust as necessary.
Training the new water boards is essential for community confidence and the key to long term water system sustainability.
Training topics include system and financial management, water treatment science, legal compliance, operations and maintenance, and more.
Learning about water meters and their installation. Proud new board members completed several training sessions. Follow-up coaching in the communities continues the learning process to empower board members to lead.
Hygiene education supports illness reduction and environmental protection. School teachers become change agents educating children and adults at community forums. RC Quito developed the curriculum.
Each new system is formally inaugurated and celebrated. Provides closure and initiates water service. For the first time in their lives, water is easily at hand.
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