Ecuador - Los Rios
PROGRAM BACKGROUND:
Los Rios is a remote, rural community located within the Napo province in the amazon region of Ecuador. Most of the residents are mestizos and most of the surrounding communities are Indigenous. Their main economic driver is agriculture, primarily cacao, corn, and rice. Several years ago, they were able to install a small water treatment system that pulled water from a shallow river that runs through the community. However, the river is becoming increasingly at risk for contamination with chemicals and heavy metals as illegal mining companies are trying to extract gold upstream. There are also multiple oil extraction pipelines that cross the upper parts of the river. Climate change is also exacerbating the risks as more erratic weather is causing flooding and mud is clogging pipes and pumps more frequently, damaging the system and compromising the water quality.
Current work:
After a visit to the community and several other visits and conversations between the EWB in-country office in Ecuador, a local NGO, the Los Rios community, their elected leadership and their water board, we have come to the conclusion that the best solution with the most support from the community is to dig a well that can avoid the contamination that exists in the surface water. Together, we have:
Conducted a comprehensive needs analysis with the Community Water Board (CWB).
Performed a topographical survey and water quality tests to understand the current system.
Evaluated several alternatives for securing safe drinking water, ultimately selecting the well-drilling option as the most sustainable solution.
Performed Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) tests for finding ideal drilling location of wells
The VES study was conducted by a geophysical contractor to identify subsurface layers that could potentially store and yield groundwater. The study tested locations around the community. Four types of subsurface layers with varying potential for groundwater storage were found. Our team reviewed the report and findings and is recommending to proceed with exploratory drilling at one location near the water treatment plant. Locating the well at the water treatment plant would simplify tying the well into the distribution system simpler and there is already access to power in that location.
The next steps involve:
Securing the necessary government permits for construction.
Performing hydrogeological surveys.
Drilling the well and extending the distribution system to serve all residents in Los Rios.
Developing documentation and conducting educational workshops to ensure the project’s long-term success and sustainability.
The total cost for drilling the well, connecting it to the community's water system, and completing the necessary construction is estimated at $83,000.
This well will not only provide clean drinking water but also promote better health, education, and economic development for the entire region.
Without the necessary funding to design and construct a community well, residents will continue to face the financial strain of buying bottled water as their CWB searches for difficult-to-find replacement parts for an aging water treatment system.
See below for how to get involved.
Get Involved
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