El Salvador Clean Water Project
Service Project of the Year
Project Title __ El Salvador Clean Water Project _
Project Chair _Shirley Folkins-Roberts_
El Salvador Clean Water Project
Rotary Club of Reno Central (“RCR”) started a relationship with Club Rotario Santa Ana Ciudad Herocia, El Salvador (“Herocia”) in winter of 2010. Our club, in partnership with the Herocia provided emergency assistance to 80 families following a tsunami in their area. Our donation provided food and necessities and shelter from Shelter Box. Based on the response we got from Herocia, we began a long term relationship with that club. In December 2010, RCR hosted Rotarian Sara Lilliana Pena from Herocia for three days to discuss and formulate a match grant for their area. Ms. Pena was hosted by RCR and its local partner club, The Rotary Club of Reno.
A matching grant request to purchase and install a well, well pump, rainwater catchment tank, water cisterns, pump test, and to build a retaining wall was submitted. Total cost is $20,808. In addition to the on-site local Club; Herocia, matching Grant Partners include Reno Central Rotary ($5,000) Rotary Club of Florence Oregon ($500) and Rotary Club of Reno ($500). District 5190 has approved the Grant and has submitted it to RI for final funding.
With this project a total of 315 families will benefit. Los Caserios, or country villages, are located 26.6km from the town of Santa Ana, El Salvador, in a very remote area. Los Caserios is divided into several different sub-communities: Esquipulas Lowland, Esquipulas Highland, and el Progreso. A well in an existing spring will be developed at a depth of 10 meters, a pump will be provided, a retaining wall will be constructed, and a water reservoir will be expanded at Esquipulas Lowland, which has a population of 20 families (approximately 120 persons). A rainwater catchment tank will be supplied to Esquipulas Highland, having a population of 70 families (approximately 480 persons).
Santa Ana Ciudad Heroica Rotary Club has also been working with El Progreso, their population has grown from 190 to 225 families, and they are asking for help to build another water tank. The Catholic University of El Salvador, UNICAES, has been working with Los Caserios to determine suitable locations for water sources.
Families from Esquipulas Lowland obtain water from a spring which runs with insufficient water in the summer. Previous studies have demonstrated that there is plenty of water at a depth of 10 meters. A well will be developed to provide water during their dry season, and we will measure its potential in order to see if there is plenty of water that can also be sent to Esquipulas Highland in the future. Residents of Esquipulas Highland currently have to walk at least 2.6km during the rainy season to where the spring is located in the lowland. If we build a rainwater catchment tank, the water source will be closer to their homes during the 8-month rainy season.
In the summer, residents of both Esquipulas use water from a contaminated river for drinking, but this water must be boiled. These sub-communities do not have water year-round, and suffer from diarrhea, and the children suffer from a severe parasitic disease and this is one of the reasons why they also suffer malnutrition.
Project is estimated to take 120 days to complete. Because we have developed such a good relationship with Herocia, it’s our intention to continue working with them on projects in the area for years to come.