Caserio El Amatio Community, Escuintla, Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa, Guatemala
At the primary school in Caserio El Amatio, a distressing water crisis disrupted the daily lives of 300 students and administrators. With only three hand-dug wells available, the community faced the challenge of accessing unsafe water contaminated with various harmful substances. Drawing water from these wells was laborious and yielded minimal results, leading many to turn to the perilous river as an alternative source. Consequently, the prevalence of parasites, stomach infections, dysentery, and skin fungi became widespread issues. Additionally, seasonal water level fluctuations led to scarcity, causing challenges in accessing water, leading to health issues and financial strain. Urgent action was needed to address the diminishing water sources.
Recognizing the severity of the water crisis, community leader Epifanio Garcia reached out to our team for urgent intervention. The decision to kickstart a vital well project was made promptly, with palpable anticipation and enthusiasm among community members.
Our drilling team wasted no time in embarking on the crucial well project. Positioned on the grounds of the local school, the team diligently drilled until they struck a secure water aquifer at a depth of 30 meters. They purged the borehole of any sedimentary rock debris, cased it with PVC, created a gravel pack, and finally installed a hand pump to culminate the well’s construction.
Our team worked with the school community to create a management plan for the well. A dedicated water caretaker was chosen to oversee the well and communicate with us regularly. They also initiated a small monthly contribution from each student’s household for pump repairs, which the community proudly embraced to protect their children’s well-being and community progress.
A comprehensive sanitation and hygiene workshop was held for 180 community members, educating them on proper pump usage, safe water storage, and personal hygiene practices. The importance of handwashing techniques in preventing diseases was emphasized, with practical demonstrations to reinforce the learning. Participants also learned correct teeth brushing methods using visual aids.
COMMUNITY DETAILS
| Exact Coordinates: | Latitude: 14.21555 Longitude: -91.171066 |
| Previous Water: | Hand Pump |
| Total Users: | 300 |
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
| Pump Type: | Hand Pump |
| Depth of Well: | 30 m |
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“Children at school mainly brought baggies of filtered water their families purchased. But those who could not afford the water drank water from the hand-dug wells. They would contract amoebas, parasites, and stomach infections. Others would get fungus from going to the river to get water.
A while ago, we only got water from the river. But it began to dry, so men dug the hand-dug wells. Some time later, the Ministry of Health came to talk about boiling water or putting chlorine in it. It did helped some, but not everyone did these things. We still became sick, and accessing water was still difficult. I am sure this new safe water well, will improve our community health.”
— Epifanio Garci, 44-year-old farmer
Our partnership with SSC helped contribute the financial support needed to build the well and educate the community on water hygiene best practices. Thank you for your support!
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