Project History

In 2001, the most powerful earthquake that Central America had experienced in 20 years struck El Salvador, its epicenter just below La Chiripa. A second earthquake followed just one month later. These earthquakes had devastating impacts: over 1,000 people were killed, 8,000 were injured, and 108,000 homes were destroyed. All of La Chiripa’s traditional adobe homes were destroyed. Though the community has slowly rebuilt, sufficient resources have not been available to construct a potable water system. To obtain water, community members either hand-carry water from a low-flow spring, collect household rainwater, or walk to a municipal water distribution system in a nearby town to purchase water. Residents typically spend one hour every two days collecting water for their daily needs. During the dry season, the community does not have sufficient water and rates of sickness are much higher.

EWB-SD was originally contacted about La Chiripa by the Barilllas Relief Project, a volunteer organization dedicated to rebuilding communities affected by the 2001 earthquakes. Since initially visiting La Chiripa in 2009, EWB-SD has worked with community members to identify community development priority issues, assess needs and assets, and conceptualize project plans. Residents have collectively chosen the project type.

Assessment Trip I

In October 2009, EWB-SD traveled to La Chiripa to assess the existing circumstances. EWB-SD met with community members, conducted a health survey, and tested all drinking water sources. EWB-SD’s water samples revealed E. coli in a primary drinking source. EWB-SD also met with the local water authority and governance to obtain approval for the project. The mayor of the town has offered his full support. Following this trip, EWB-SD worked on a preliminary water system design to present to the community and local authorities.

Assessment Trip II

In March 2011, EWB-SD returned to La Chiripa to discuss the proposed design and implementation details with La Chiripa residents and to develop in-country NGO partnerships. The team established partnerships with in-country NGOs that will work with La Chiripa residents in health/environmental education, capacity building, and local coordination to ensure long-term project sustainability.

Project Components

The project utilizes three specific avenues to improve community health and capabilities:

(1) installation of potable rainwater systems, reducing negative impact on community health and the surrounding ecosystem, (2) public health education (hygiene and sanitation promotion), and (3) technical and administrative community training.

Potable Water System and Waste Disposal

EWB-SD and the community will build rainwater catchment and treatment systems at each household to provide potable drinking water. Rainwater will collect on roofs and flow through gutters and piping into storage tanks behind homes. The tanks will have sufficient storage capacity to supply water for the entire six month dry season. The rainwater catchment system will utilize a “first-flush” mechanism to discard the first flush of rainwater that is contaminated from the rooftop. Filters will connect to tank outlets to filter water utilized for drinking.

Health Education

The health education program will focus on key hygiene behaviors that propagate disease, equipping community members with the knowledge necessary to prevent future water-related health issues. Specifically, EWB-SD will hold training sessions on the wastewater management system at each house, hand-washing and disease transmission, safe household water management practices, and trash disposal. SDSU and UCSD public health graduate students are designing the health training and education program and will guide its implementation.

Community Training and Skill Development

The project also equips community members with technical and administrative skills, thus building the community’s capacity to organize their own projects. EWB-SD is working with the community leadership committee on NGO partnerships, project planning, community organizing, and finances. Each family will be trained individually on maintenance and installation of the potable rainwater and grey water systems. Through this partnership, residents gain skills in community relations, project management, leadership, budgeting, and organizing.