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| The water committee constructing their slow sand filter in the central community. |
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HOTC has assisted a village elected water committee to completely renovate Huacaria's existing gravity flow system, install slow sand filtration with chlorine disinfection and extend the water lines through every sector of the central community.
This committee also constructed a new gravity flow water system in the Quechua sector of the community, that was not accessible by the central water system. This was done under the supervision of our US slow sand filter expert/water and sanitation project engineer Humphrey Blackburn of Blackburn & Associates, and our Peru based sanitary engineer Moises Mera. The community of Huacaria now has equal access to safe drinking water.
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| Emilio Caparo and his wife Herlinda share the resources in their home with 22 combined family members. |
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The water committee assisted in the construction of 18 outdoor stone utility sinks with underground gray water drain trenches.
Depending on the number of families living in a household and their daily consumption of water, drains range from 18 to 80 meters long. They are 0.90 meters deep and filled with 7 - 10 centimeter rocks.
These underground drains are specifically designed to function in Huacaria clay-like soil, and to accommodate heavy rainfall.
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| Our US Environmental Engineer/ Slow Sand Filter Expert Humphrey Blackburn (standing in yellow), trained our health director (at blackboard) and the village watear commitee (sitting at the table) over a period of 5 years. |
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Our U.S. water experts, Peruvian based engineering consultants and project foreman's work hands-on with Huacaria's water committee. The formula that HOTC uses in all structural building is: the use of cultraully appropriate low technology methods, quality materials purchased in country combined with the use of natural resources partnerd by a community workforce. All installations are built to withstand heavy daily use and the harsh weather elements of the rainforest.
Village Based Water Committee
The water committee combined with community members contribute the local environmental data, and 90% of the labor. The water committee is fully trained to repair and maintain their water and sanitation systems.
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| Portable Microbiology Laboratory |
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The water committee is also trained to operate a "portable microbiology water testing laboratory" to conduct onsite coliform bacteria testing. Accurate coliform results are given within a 24 hour time period. This portable HACH laboratory enables the community to test their water supply on a regular basis to insure its quality.
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| (R to L) HOTC Health Director Maria Luisa, assists the water committee to balance thier accounting books for the monthly maintenance fees they collect from the community. |
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The water committee has established a communal maintenance fund in which each family is required to contribute a monthly fee of $1.00 to maintain and repair the water and sanitation systems, and sanitary installations.
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| (L to R) The Health Ministry Engineer meets with water committee president on a technical supervision visit to Huacaria. Here the engineer is reviewing Huacaria chlorine system. |
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To secure that Huacaria's water remains safe throughout the distribution line, the water is treated with a minimum amount of chlorine (0.4 - 0.6 range) using a simple chlorine drip system. The water committee, and the upper grades students of the primary school monitor the chlorine levels of their water supply regularly so that their water remains optimum for their consumption.
The committee works in partnership with the health ministry water safety division. The health ministry personal makes periodic "unannounced" supervision visits to the community to be sure that the water meets public health safety standards. They also teach weekly classes to the children at the village schoolhouse in system maintenance, water quality and basic health education.
HOTC provides oversight to the water committee with ongoing technical assistance and bi-yearly visits from our engineering staff and our health director.
Youth Participation
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| Edmundo building the utility sink at his home. |
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HOTC believes the sustainability of the project lies within the hands and hearts of the children. The children of Huacaria are integral in all aspects of our programs. Their participation in our building phase included: the building of their water and sanitation systems and their stone utility sink and gray water drain at their home and the village school house. The adult water committee reinforces basic maintenance and health practices with the children on an ongoing basis.
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| (R to L) Jovita, age 9, water committee member participates in a bacteria test of the water supply as her friends Marisol and Maricel look on. |
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A youth water committee is in place at the village schoolhouse. This committee actively participates in weekly water safety checks and light system maintenance work of the water and sanitation structures.
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