Location
Canton Santa Cruz, Santiago de la Frontera, Santa Ana, El Salvador
Community Description
The village of Santa Cruz is located about 55 kilometers northwest of the city of Santa Ana near the border with Guatemala.
Santa Cruz has a population of 362 inhabitants living in 129 houses, a school that includes 180 students, and a clinic that provides non-emergency medical treatment. The clinic and the school make available valuable services to the neighboring 6 communities in the area and are dependent on the local water source as well.
The running water system for the entire rural community, created 25 years ago, consists of a large water tank and pump, a well, a concrete storage box, and various piping to deliver the water to the buildings.
The seasonal change from rainy to dry season has drastic impacts in all areas of life in the region, especially the water supply. During the dry season the river that supplies the water source for the community recedes, and consequently the water is taken from an open well in the ground instead of the stream.
From there, it is sent through a concrete storage container that regulates the flow to the tank. This water source provides a sufficient amount of water to fill the tank once a day. This sustains four hours of access per day to the families, the clinic, and the school.
A second and separate ground water source that exists nearby is not currently being utilized, as it requires development beyond the current resources of the community.
Project Description
This project is to increase the water supply to the village by expanding the water delivery system.
A separate micro-system will be built and joined to the existing well by creating a separate holding box connected into the other source. This will connect this structure directly to the tank, thus doubling the amount of water to the current tank.
In addition, the structural integrity of the tank will be improved, as substantial wear and tear has occurred over the years. (Although the expected life span of this type of tank is estimated to be ten years, through appropriate maintenance and repair, the tank can surpass the normal longevity.)
Project funds will be used to purchase basic materials, including concrete, brick, iron, and sand.
The community members who maintain the system will transport the materials and use them to build the second concrete storage container attached to the separate groundwater source.
Project Impact
1,042 people will benefit from the project, including 362 residents of the village, 180 students of the school, and 500 patients at the clinic.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Louis Smith
Comments
This project will succeed in doubling the amount of water supply for the entire community throughout the dry season, as well as provide the necessary and much-needed maintenance to the existing system.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Louis Smith of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Louis and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.