Preview Currently Under Construction.

Typical Project

Potable water projects in Ecuador are very similiar to water project in the U.S. Agreements are made between the Owner and the Engineer to design the project. Funding is then obtained and the project constructed. In Ecuador, the Owner and Contractor are both the community receiving the new water system; HCJB is the Engineer; and Water For People and HCJB finance the project.

The project begins with the community's request to HCJB for a potable water system. HCJB then helps the community form a water board and secure water rights as required. The communities must also begin a health care training program which includes the construction of latrines for each family. Design and construction of the water system does not begin until the latrines are completed. (Latrines can be viewed as the downpayment for a water system).

Once the latrines are completed, HCJB begins design and elicits funding for materials from Water For People. (Water For People is now able to fund 1 project per year. HCJB may complete 4 or 5 projects each year).

Construction begins as soon as the funding is secured and the plans completed. All labor is provided by the communities. Construction then begins under the supervision of HCJB trained technicians. These technicians are native Qechuans who understand both HCJB's requirements and the community's culture. Construction of a water system is usually completed in 6 to 8 months.

A typical community water system serves 70 to 100 families and provide a spigot for each family. The total cost of a system is approximately $100,000. Of this HCJB provides about $20,000 in design and construction oversight services. Materials cost about $20,000, which is Water For People's contribution. The Community contributes the remaining $60,000, which is primarly labor at the rate of $6 per day per person.

Water For People is currently concentrating its funding for communities in the Chimborozo province. (click the ECUADOR tab for more information and an area map).

HCJB World Radio

Hoy Cristo Jesus Bendice (Today Christ Jesus Blesses).

HCJB is a non-profit, non-denominational mission formed in 1930's to broadcast the Scriptures to the entire world using short-wave radio transmitters. HCJB is located in Ecuador primarly, because this was the first county to grant a short-wave radio transmission license. From Ecuador, the short-wave transmission literally reach the entire planet.

After broadcasting the gospel for about 20 years, since there was no medical services being provided the area, they started a local clinic. Today, this clinic has now grown into one of the premier hospitals in the world dealing with tropical diseases. Experience with this Hospital showed the diseases treated could be prevented with proper sanitation and potable water. Thus in 1980s, HCJB began their community development program.

Community Development is designed as an all inclusive health care program. In addition to the potable water systems the Water for People supports, HCJB provides health care training and medical support through a traveling caravan program. Without the health care training, the water projects would have limited affect, because these communities have lived for many generations without knowledge of proper hygene.

Currently, HCJB's community development program is limited to Ecuador, but plans are currently being made to expand into other countries.

The Country of Ecuador

History:

The region of Ecuador is believed to be originally setteled by Asian nomads around 12,000 B.C. There is also believed to be some early influence by the Polynesians also. The area was relatively peacefull until the arrival of the Incas around 1450 A.D. Spanish rule began in 1532 with the arrival of the conquistadores, and lasted until 1822, when Ecuador became an independent country.

Peoples:

The modern Ecuador is a mixture of Quechuan, Spanish/European cultures. The Quechuan peoples are still the prominant population of the rual areas. HCJB/Water For People predominantely work with the ethnic group. Until the late 1960's the Quechuan peoples were the slaves of the Spanish.

Climate:

With the exception of dry and rainy seasons, the weather rarely changes. The central Andes valley is very pleasant, with daytime temperatures in the 70's and 50's at night.

Geogrophy:

The most prominant feature of Ecuador is the Andes mountains, which split the country in a North/South direction. There are many volcanic peaks in Ecuador of which Mt. Chimborozo, at 20,700ft, is the highest point on earth (as measured from the center of the earth). In general, the Andes mountains form two ridges with a central arid valley. The elevation of the valley is ranges between 8,000 and 11,000 feet, and the ridges approaching 15,000ft. Both sides of the Andes mountains is tropical jungle. Ecuador is famous for it flowers, and is a major exporter to the U.S.

Key Water System Development Principles

1. Full Community Committment: Each community agrees to:
   • Build, maintain and use latrines.
   • Form a Community Potable Water Board.
   • Build and maintain a potable water system (Normally 6 to 9 months of labor is required of each water user).
   • Obtain legal rights to a practical water source.
   • Provide the manual labor, sand & gravel.
   • Pay local water technicians and provide them hospitality during construction period.
   • Commit to an overall plan to improve community health including periodic evaluations.
2. Appropriate Technology: The design of the water system should be at an appropriate technical level for the people who use and maintain the installation. Simple hand dug wells or concrete spring capturing structures are normally used as the potable water source rather than treating surface water.
3. Appropriate Economy: To be self-sustaining, the design must be at the community’s economic level so that they are able to take responsibility for using and maintaining their water system.
4. Leadership and Training: The local people must take leadership in the work and be trained in the course of building the water system. When the water technicians leave the village, the local people are trained to take responsibility for the system. The participants in such training usually include: water board members, water system caretakers, and other community leaders.
5. Outside Resources: Rural communities need a water champion who will provide technical help and donations. These donations are used to purchase the expensive pipe and manufactured materials that the communities could not otherwise afford.

Miraflores Cochabamba

Troje Grande & Troje Belen

Laguna San Martin

Ocpote Villa Maria

View Facing North From Southern Reservoir Overlooking Community and Pan-American Highway

Ocpote Villa Maria is a communtity of approximately 70 families located adjacent to the Pan-Amercian Highway at an elevation of approximately 11,000 feet.

Their source water is a spring located at the base of the mountain, adjacent to the highway. It is then pumped up to reservoirs dispursed throughout the community.

Completed in 2003, this is the 5th project Water For People has sponsored. Water for People contributed approximately $20,000 for materials for both the distribution system and the pumping facilities.

This is also the first project where a PLC (programmable logic controller) was installed to operate the pumps. At the writing of this article, it has been operating successfully for 2 years, with just a few minor problems. Interest in the PLC arose when the local panel builder promised a cost savings.

Pueblo Viejo

Quishuar Maria Elena

 

Pump Station & Trench Construction

This is the latest water project funded by Water for People donations. Located along the Pan American highway, it is a pumped system servicing approximately 80 families.

This system includes 4 miles of pipe, 4 reservoirs, and a pump house with (2)- 2hp pumps. The discharge pressure at the pumps must be greater than 295 psi to overcome the static head. Therefore, special order pressure pipe was required near to pump station.

Construction began in November of 2004 and is continuing ahead of schedule. As you can see, the pump station and spring encapsulation is well underway. All trenching is completed and most of the pipe installation.

Construction is anticipated to be completed in April of 2005.

Caluasig Grande

Caluasig is the first project sponsered by Water For People. Originally designed by Calvin College students, it was completed under the supervision of HCJB and Water for People.

This water system currently serves 296 families since its completion in 1998. There are currently preliminary plans to expand this system to include another 80 families.