Transcript Slide 1

Evolution of a Potable
Water Partnership in Rural
Honduras
CEOAS GEMinar
29 January 2013
Michael E. Campana
Professor, Geography Program
Oregon State University
http://www.waterwired.org
President, Ann Campana Judge Foundation
http://www.acjfoundation.org
Talk Organization
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Introduction/Background
Hydrophilanthropy
Millennium Development Goal
Honduras Project – Phases
The Future
My Background
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Born in Manhattan (NY, not KS). Grew up on Long
Island, NY. Left East for good in 1970 (one year of
penance in Atlanta in early 1980s)
Undergraduate degree in Geology – College of William
& Mary, Virginia
Learned my water (hydrology) at U. of Arizona –
emphasis on groundwater
Spent virtually entire adult life (1970 – 2006) living and
working (DRI and U of NM) in arid West (AZ, NV, CA,
NM). Rehydration: western Oregon since 2006
International work: Central America, South Caucasus,
Central Asia, Egypt, Europe
Favorite compliment (depending upon who says it):
‘You don’t sound like an academic!”
Significant ‘Water’ Events
• 1975: Finished graduate work at U of AZ;
Desert Research Institute/UN-Reno position.
• 1989: Left DRI for University of New Mexico
• 1993: Married Mary Frances – amazing
support & encouragement!
• Mid-1990s: UNM Water Resources Program “dark side” - policy, management, etc.
• Late 1990s: Started focusing on WaSH (water,
sanitation, and hygiene) issues in developing
regions. Volunteer work with LI and LWI.
• 2002: Founded 501(c)(3) - Ann Campana
Judge Foundation (www.acjfoundation.org) –
funds/undertakes WaSH work in Central
America
• 2006: OSU arrival; Social Media – WaterWired
blog, Twitter, Facebook
Hydrophilanthropy - 1
Definition: Altruistic concern
for the water, sanitation, and
related needs of humankind, as
manifested by donations of
work, money, or
resources.
Hydrophilanthropy - 2
Alternate definition: “I can’t
define hydrophilanthropy, but
I know it when I see it.” – M.
Campana (apologies to
former Supreme Court Justice
Potter Stewart)
Hydrophilanthropy in
Practice
“I really envy you guys. You have
the power to keep people from
getting sick. By the time I’m called,
it’s really too late.”
-- A medical doctor, talking to
some volunteer water
professionals
Readings
1) September 2010
Water Resources IMPACT
(http://bit.ly/9ColgZ)
2) August 2010 J. of Contemporary
Water Research and Education
(http://ucowr.org/issue-145)
3) ‘Hydrophilanthropy’ category at:
http://www.waterwired.org
Millennium Development Goal
• By 2015, reduce by 50% the number of
people who do not have access to an
improved source of drinking water
(~ 1B) or sanitation (~ 2.4 B)
• Requires that each day until 2015, we
must provide safe drinking water to
about 250,000 people and sanitary
facilities to about 500,000 people
• Figures are likely optimistic
• ‘Improved source’ does not equal ‘safe’
Honduras Project – Phase 1
• From 2001-2005, I conducted field course for U
of NM Master of Water Resources students in
Honduras - three weeks each June. See
JCWRE and IMPACT articles.
• Worked with Hondureños Alex del Cid
Vásquez, Rolando López, and local villagers to
help build gravity-flow water systems (dam,
tank, piping) in 5 villages in Sierra de Omoa.
• Introduced students to hydrophilanthropy and
the struggles of many just to obtain clean
drinking water.
Five villages
located in the
Sierra de Omoa, a
rugged mountain
range ~30 km NW
of San Pedro Sula
Climate: Warm and
humid with distinct
wet and dry
seasons. Average
annual rainfall of
250 cm (~100
inches)
Rural Water Project
Santa Teresa, Honduras
WR573 2004
Alex del Cid Vásquez, “el jefe de agua”
Building the Dam
• A dam site was cleared above the
village near a perennial spring.
• A local mason was hired to build the
forms and work with the concrete.
Sand from the streambed and 20-30
bags (1 to 1.5 tons) of cement were
used.
• It took ~ 6 days to build the dam and
then ~10 - 14 days for the concrete to
cure.
Dam plans
Tank and Distribution System
• We leveled a site above the village for a 5000
gallon water tank and dug a pit for the tank
platform
• Local mason and villagers constructed the tank
• Two- or three-inch diameter (ID) galvanized iron
(GI) or PVC (plastic) pipe was laid between the
dam and the tank site
• The pipe was provided by SANAA, the Honduran
government agency responsible for rural water
supply
• PVC pipe was laid from the tank to each house
• Agreement was signed between SANAA and
village specifying the responsibilities of each
Pipe cutting and threading
Accomplishments
• Helped build five gravity-flow potable
water systems serving about 2,000 people
• Provided instruction to locals in hygiene,
sanitation, and source water protection
• Cross-cultural, life-changing (for some)
experience for 70 students
• ‘Freed’ local women – can do other things
besides gathering water; girls can go to
school; latrines provide privacy
• Gringos can be “good neighbors”
Shortcomings
• No follow-up – Honduran
government agency SANAA dropped
the ball (no circuit riders)
• Need continued training, support
• Sustainability and monitoring &
evaluation issues (see IMPACT
articles by Christine Casey Matute
and S. Moore) Feel good project?
• Change in social dynamics of
villages – gender roles. Is this good?
Honduras Project – Phase 2
• From 2006 – 2009: Little activity incountry. Considered issues of
sustainability, capacity building, project
development, partnerships.
• ACJF accumulated funds
• Funded other organizations’ projects in
Nicaragua [El Porvenir
(http://www.elporvenir.org) and Agua
Para La Vida (http://www.aplv.org)] &
Honduras
Honduras Project – Recent
Developments
• Alex del Cid Vásquez now city councilor,
Municipalidad de Omoa
• Alex has convinced mayor, Prof. Ricardo
Alvarado, to implement a rural water
supply policy (= votes)
• He indicated to the mayor that water is
an important issue for women and girls:
they collect the water (= more votes)
• Related issues of education and
sanitation: important to women and girls.
Honduras Project – Current
• Working with Municipalidad de Omoa
• Completed system in Brisas de Rio
Cuyamel
• Almost completed: system in Los Mejias
• Have identified 6 more villages needing
potable water systems
• Municipalidad has provided support:
road building, vehicles, running
interference, etc.
• Working with women’s affairs office
Tank at Brisas de Rio Cuyamel
Prof. Ricardo Alvarado, el alcalde de Municipalidad de
Omoa, con Michael Campana y Rolando López
Morality Play – Brisas de Rio Cuyamel
Road going up to Los Mejias
Road to Los Mejias viewed from
Santo Domingo
A view of Los Mejias
The dam at Los Mejias
Los Mejias – pipe anchors
Pipe - Los Mejias
The food
Honduras Project – Future
• Anticipate starting work on Rio
Abajo water system – June 2013
• Visit prospective projects
• Visit Los Mejias and Brisas de Rio
Cuyamel systems. Dedication of
former’s system
• Discussions with Omoa and other
officials
Thank You!
WaterWired blog:
http://www.waterwired.org
WaterWired Twitter:
http://twitter.com/waterwired
ACJF: http://www.acjfoundation.org
”The road to help is paved with good intentions.” –
Tracy Baker