|
Over the past few decades Honduras has been in a process of making clean, quality drinking water available to its entire population. In spite of this movement, lack of economic resources have prevented the Honduran government from being able to construct appropriate infrastructure in many rural areas. In an effort to improve communal influence in the government, Honduran law stipulates that each community must create and maintain its own Junta de Agua (Water Council) in order to be eligible for a water project to bring clean water. This was done in an effort to make these projects more sustainable, as it is the duty of the water councils to provide follow-up and maintenance to the created infrastructure. This also allows for better communication between the communities and SANAA, Servicio Autónomo Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, the National Association of Aqueducts and Sewers. With the support of these local water councils, the control and distribution of potable water was decentralized and given to the communities themselves. This has left
many communities in a tough situation, as most are unable to raise sufficient funds to build the required infrastructure themselves.
Together with a water technician from SANAA, representatives from the Municipality of Cantarranas and El Paraiso, and active members of the Rotary International, we visited three bordering communities. In each community we conducted a brief survey to assess the current situation of their water supply. We also verified their legal progress towards creating a water council, a necessary step prior to any construction. While the situation is very different in each community, what is the same is the great need to provide clean, potable water to the population. The studies concluded that none of the communities were meeting the minimum standard in Honduras and that more infrastructure would be necessary to provide the quality of water each resident deserves.
Villa Nueva is community in the municipality of Moroceli, in the department of EL Paraiso, in east center Honduras. There are roughly 300 people residing in 50 houses. Community members in this community don't have access to obtain enough clean water to meet their basic needs, meaning that they must forgo many basic hygiene and sanitation practices. Thus, common colds, skin rashes, parasites, and diarrheal diseases plague community members. Homes have not concrete floors, not proper functioning latrines, and not adequate water storage, or efficient stoves with chimneys.
Pacaya is community in the municipality of Cantarranas, in the department of Francisco Morazán, in east center Honduras. There are roughly 315 people residing in 63 houses. People in this community have access to obtain water from their current water project but the water their getting now is not enough to meet their basic needs there are only obtaining 7 gallons per minute, basic hygiene and sanitation practices are not the best. Thus, skin rashes, parasites, and diarrheal diseases plague community members. 70% of Homes have not concrete floors, not proper functioning latrines, and not adequate water storage, or efficient stoves with chimneys, which further exacerbates their health problems.
El Bosque is community in the municipality of Cantarranas, in the department of Francisco Morazán, in east center Honduras. There are roughly 245 people residing in 49 houses. People in this community have access to obtain water from their current water gravity system, but this water is not enough to satisfice their basic needs, basic hygiene and sanitation practices need to be improved. Thus, parasites, and diarrheal diseases plague community members. 70% of Homes have not concrete floors, not proper functioning latrines, and not adequate water storage, or efficient stoves with chimneys, which further exacerbates their health problems.
The timeline to complete this project is spread out over many months to ensure excellence in implementation and sustainability throughout the lifecycle of the project. All of these dates are 2019.
Villa Nueva, Moroceli, El Paraíso - This Project Will take place from May - August
Papayas, Cantarranas, Francisco Morazán - This Project Will take place from July - September
El Bosque, Cantarranas, Francisco Morazán - This Project Will take place from September - November.
The project funds will be used for materials to build the systems that are unique to each community, Autocad drawings for the engineers to make exact plans for the drilling, project management expenses for the team of SANAA engineers, and surveys that are required by RI.
Participation for this grant is a true Rotarian project. The partners involved include the international partner RCRoseville, the host RC of Danli, the Tegucigalpa Rotaract club, both municipalities from the 2 bordering communities, and an NGO called SELF that is led by a partnership between American and Honduran medical teams and former SANAA engineers.
the RCRoseville also intends to help install portions of the project during a visit in June of 2019. No Rotary funds will be used for this travel however. Those expenses will be incurred by the Rotarians and other travelers themselves.
|
