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WATER AND SANITATION FOR PATZALAM AND XEJUL, SANTA APOLONIA
CHIMALTENANGO, GUATEMALA
2015 - 2016
BACKGROUND: ALDEA (formerly Behrhorst Partners for Development (BPD)) has been working in communities of Chimaltenango (Guatemala) since 2002. In order to address some of the basic causes of poor health and nutrition in these areas, over the last eight years we have expanded our efforts to help the villagers address basic sanitation - water systems, gray water filters and latrines - in order to help prevent the constant diarrhea that afflicts the population, particularly children, and make the child mortality rate one of the highest in Latin America. We are also helping to provide fuel-efficient stoves, which use less than 1/2 the firewood than traditional open air fires, prevent burns, and vent the smoke outside the house, thereby helping to prevent upper respiratory problems which are the number one killer of children in Guatemala.
BENEFICIARIES: Patzalam and Xejul are the communities that would benefit from this proposal are located 1 mile from the county seat of Santa Apolonia, and 26 miles from the Department (State) capital of Chimaltenango. Patzalam has a population of 60 families and Xejul has 90 families, approximately 750 people in both villages. There is public transportation every day. People from these villages walk 1 mile to the health center in Santa Apolonia to receive medical attention and advice from nurses. People work primarily on agriculture, a few on their own land and many on rented. Some work as day laborers on other farms, receiving $55 monthly per family. A few can grow enough of their crops to sell them. The major crops of corn and beans are primarily for the families' consumption.
PROJECT REQUEST: The request is for four components: 1) a pumped water system, 2) gray-water filters, 3) latrines and 4) efficient cook stoves.
Currently these communities suffer from a lack of water in their homes. Women and children must walk about 15 minutes each way to gather water from small springs or, in the dry season when these springs dry up, must go farther to more distant springs, however the 98% of Guatemalan surface water, is contaminated. A study the Municipal Govt. paid for indicates that the new system will supply enough water/person/day, within the range for this climate as determined by the World Health Organization. The communities have sought additional technical and financial help from the Municipality of Santa Apolonia and other government and non-profit organizations, but to date has not received any support.
The total budget for the project is $177,973, from which we need to raise $ 91,828 to buy construction materials for the following and provide supervision and training to the community members:
• Pump system, distribution/storage tank, floodgate valves, air valves, cement, iron, sand, gravel and wire;
• PVC pipes to carry water from impulsion line to the storage tank and from there to the 150 houses, with one spigot at each house.
• PVC pipe of various diameters, PSI of 160, 250, and 315, for a total length of 3186 meters, to go from the distribution tank to 150 homes, each one with its own connection.
• Construction materials for 150 gray water filters because there is not a drainage system in the community.
• Construction materials for 150 pit vented latrines.
• Construction materials for 150 fuel efficient cook stoves.
• The remainder of the budget will be covered by the Municipality and the community itself.
As part of the water project, the Municipality will provide 10 seedlings per family (pine and cedar) for each family to plant and care for, particularly around the water sources. BPD will provide education about the use and management of water for human consumption, as well as about maintenance and construction of all the components.
It is important to highlight this is part of an integral program that also includes: nutritional education, sustainable agriculture, family planning, community empowerment and disaster risk reduction.
Commitments of each of the parties:
The villagers will provide:
1. Locally-available materials (wood, sand, rocks) for the 4 components above.
2. Unskilled labor (they've made a schedule of shifts for people to dig the trenches, place the pipes, construct the distribution tank).
3. Plant and care of the trees, especially around the water springs to help preserve them.
4. Each family will contribute to a fund to be used for maintenance of the water system.
5. Create a list of volunteers to constantly monitor the water system.
6. Organize the community to receive educational talks about proper home water use, as well as the gray water filter, the latrines and stoves, the importance of conserving the environment and the forests.
The Municipality of Santa Apolonia will provide:
1. Skilled labor and supervision of the community workers.
2. 1500 seedlings to the village (10 per family) for reforestation.
ALDEA will:
1. Seek funds to carry out the project;
2. Support the community's organization and supervise the 4 components of the project;
3. Oversee the proper use and transparency of the donor's funds in the community, which will not pass through BPD's accounting system;
4. Ensure that each participant abides by its commitments;
5. Oversee the carrying out of the project, supporting the families and the different participating institutions;
6. Conduct the educational component about: management of water for home use, prevention of diarrhea diseases, family nutrition, birth spacing, environmental preservation; and maintenance of the gray water filters, latrines and stoves.
BUDGET
Item Community Municipality Rotary Clubs Total
Water system construction $14,798 $51,315 $45,622 $111,735
150 Gray water filter
construction $6,906 $5,340 $12,246
150 Latrines construction $8,700 $12,857 $21,557
150 Stoves construction $4,426 $19,717 $24,143
Engineering, Design and
supervision $8,292 $8,292
Total $34,830 $51,315 $91,828 $177,973
The total amount requested for this project is $91,828 (exchange rate Q7.60:$1.00).
Note: The Rotary Foundation is assessing a 5% surcharge for all club contributions to the
Foundation. Therefore an additional $1,251 is the estimated additional amount required to completely fund these projects.
For further information, please contact:
Rick Lawrence - Patzalam & Xejul Water Projects Chair
District 7890 Water & Sanitation Projects Chair
Manchester, CT Rotary Club
860-558-2793 Cell
elawrlaw@sbcglobal.net
Summer: 315 Ram Island Road
Charlestown, RI 02813
(401) 364-7169
Winter: 2100 South Ocean Lane - Apt. #1008
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
(754) 223-7223
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