Nueva Esperanza, Darién, Panama
Nueva Esperanza is an Emberá indigenous community located on the Tupiza River in the Emberá-Wounaan region, province of Darién. The population is approximately 300 people, and has not carried out a community water project to date. Today people collect water from the river in buckets or other containers to take home for domestic use, and some families collect rainwater.
We opt for water treatment in each home instead of treatment for the entire system. Therefore, it is recommended that each home use a Sawyer brand hollow membrane filter. Seeing the stories of damages and failures with complete system purification and treatment systems, we opted for home-level filtration for drinking water. And that the same system is dedicated to providing raw water to each home with teaching so that each family knows that the water they receive at home is not drinkable for direct human consumption.
Population: 300
Total Project cost: $35,000
Project Funding: Rotary International
phase 1
On the initial visit to Nueva Esperanza, we surveyed the community for any existing infrastructure that could be used for the water project. There are two water tanks located in the school that will expand the storage capacity of the system. After the assessment was completed, the community proposed the designs for a new layout of the water system with its intake, reservoir tank, and distribution piping. A location for the infiltration gallery-type water intake was identified, and a suitable place was chosen for a reserve tank to supply the water demand by gravity.
phase 2
In phase 2 of the project, equipment was brought into the community, and the construction of the newly designed water system began. Solea’s team of volunteers and staff came to assist and oversee the construction. The Fosters also led WASH education activities for the community and children. Watch our video below to learn more!
PHASE 3
After completing the installation, we tested the system to ensure it pumped enough water for the community and lab-tested the water quality to ensure it was safe for the community. Our testing looked for high levels of heavy metals and bacteriological contaminants.
Ongoing Work
As an organization committed to long-term partnerships with the communities in which we work, we routinely return to Nueva Esperanza to help the water committee address any problems or maintenance issues they might have. These have included replacing worn-out pipes, cleaning the well, performing chlorine shocks, and fixing the pump.
Gallery
Field Notes
The Fosters and the Solea Water team share their experience spending a weekend in Nueva Esperanza, leading WASH training and constructing the water system infrastructure.