The Living Earth Institute (LEI) is working cooperatively with the Community Council of Guarjila, El Salvador, and with the Engineering Department at the University of Central America to assess the community water supply system and infrastructure for the Guarjila community. The community of Guarjila includes approximately 3,000 people who were previously displaced by the 12-year war (1980 to 1992) and are currently rebuilding their community to meet the needs of their population now and into the future. Consistent with LEI philosophy, only in-country labor and technical experts will be used to identify the problems, study possible alternatives, conduct feasibility studies, and work with the beneficiaries to create sustainable solutions. Our goal is to empower the community to engage in problem solving and program implementation.
The current water sources for Guarjila includes temporal springs in nearby mountainous areas. The sources are extremely susceptible to erosion as well as sediment and bacterial contamination. The supply volumes are inadequate to meet community needs year-round and the water quality is an ever present concern.
In addition, the community is struggling to institute an infrastructure to create a long term sustainable system. They currently lack sufficient training on system maintenance, long range planning and rate structure development to assure the water utility will function as needed for the community into the future.
The project includes and initial phase to conduct a needs assessment, feasibility study and technical evaluation of the work and training required to improve and enhance the water supply system in the community of Guarjila. LEI will be working closely with the Guarjila Community Council and Jon Cortina, the Director of the Engineering Department at the University of Central America in San Salvador. There will be strong emphasis on capacity building within the community including training of local leaders and residents in all aspects of the project on order to meet the primary goals of environmental responsibility and long term sustainability.
LEI has provided seed money for the community of Guarjila to create a project proposal that will evaluate the needs of the community, conduct a preliminary design and propose long range technical solutions and infrastructure improvements. In late 2004, LEI and the Community Council in Guarjila will develop a budget for design, construction and implementation of the water supply and infrastructure development project. This will include funds for training to meet the critical needs to ensure project sustainability, and a proposal for expectation for volunteer labor from the community beneficiaries. Funding targets will be set, and LEI will work to garner donations and grants to meet the project goals.
Additional information:
Pam Elardo, P.E.
LEI President
info@living-earth.org
5706 43rd Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98105
USA
(206) 522-1748
Contact LEI: info@living-earth.org