THE DATA
Population: 6.2 million 13% without access to an
improved water source 13% without adequate
sanitation services 30% living below the
poverty line
Life expectancy: 72 years
Infant mortality rate: 17 per 1000 live births
GNI per capita: $5925 USD
Sources: World Bank, UNICEF, USAID, UNDP, CIA World Factbook Official statistics often understate the extent of water and sanitation problems, sometimes by a large margin. Insufficient resources for monitoring population and/or coverage as well as varying definitions of coverage and access contribute to statistical variability.
THE PROJECT
Project Location: Sonsonate, Caulote Arriba Community, El Salvador GPS Coordinates: Latitude:13 38.494 N, Longitude: 89 51.824 W People Served: 125
Report Presented To: Bear Creek Community Church. Lodi, California
THE COUNTRY
According to the latest UNDP report, El Salvador is ranked 90th out of 169 countries with comparable data in the United Nations Human Development Index. The nation has made remarkable strides towards political and economic stability since 1992, when a peace treaty was signed ending a 12-year civil war. But much work remains to be done. At least 4 out of every 10 Salvadorans live in conditions of poverty.
Although El Salvador has Central America’s third largest economy, development is hindered by major challenges such as high levels of rural poverty, vulnerability to natural disasters,
exclusion from basic services and education, and violence. El Salvador also has one of the region’s highest homicide rates, with a large percentage attributable to gangs.
Economic disparity poses a serious threat to the overall stability of El Salvador. The richest fifth of the population receives 45 percent of the country’s income, while the poorest fifth receive only 5.6 percent. Poverty, which affects mostly the rural sector, has a significant impact on access to adequate nutrition, water, and sanitation.
Hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans lack access to clean water and adequate sanitation, making sustainable water and sanitation solutions a vital key to the country’s development. Many families in rural communities still collect water from contaminated rivers or other unprotected groundwater sources.
OUR WORK IN EL SALVADOR
Living Water International began work in El Salvador in March of 1999 after hurricane Mitch struck the coast, leaving thousands displaced and without access to clean water. Since then, more than 370 water projects have been completed. Headquartered in Acajutla, Sonsonate, Living Water El Salvador serves communities along the country’s Pacific coast. Most of Living Water’s projects in El Salvador are completed as part of mission trips, where teams travel to drill a well and teach valuable health and hygiene lessons in communities where the water situation is critical. Living Water El Salvador is an accredited NGO in the country, and has been working in the Sonsonate area for the past decade. Living Water will host 40 mission trips to El Salvador in 2012, with hopes of completing even more new wells, rehabs, and inspections in the future. In addition, Living Water El Salvador plans to drill 10 new wells independent of
EL SALVADOR
GENERAL INFORMATION
A LWI El Salvador team member commented, “This community was a very organized community in all aspects.” When the team arrived, community members were utilizing an unprotected hand dug well to meet all of their water needs. Because of this, families were suffering from cholera, dysentery, malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration. During the team’s stay, community members assisted the team with the water project whenever possible, provided food, materials and security over the project during the night. Most community members are of Catholic or Protestant faith. Many farm in the area to earn a living and a few teach at the nearby school. The school is located half of a kilometer away from the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to the new, safe water source. Before leaving the community, the team provided community member, Antonio Leon, with a LWI El Salvador contact number in case their well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft.
TESTIMONY
The LWI El Salvador team had an opportunity to meet with fifty year old community member and electrician, Antonio Leon, who stated, “Our dug wells are very bad and we did not know exactly why, but we now know that we have problems with our hand-dug wells because the wells are unprotected and things can fall in, like ants. When the ants walk around the well, they can fall into the water and drown, which gives the water a bad taste and contaminate them. Now with this new well we will be supplying more than 70 families with pure drinking water. Thank you Living Water.”
CHARACTERISITICS OF THE WELL
Project Details
Location Name Sonsonate, Caulote Arriba Community, El Salvador
Type of Location Village
Work Type New Borehole
Region/Province/District Metalio
GPS Coordinates Latitude:13 38.494 N Longitude: 89 51.824 W
Altitude 15 m
Total depth 30 m
Static level 10 m
Diameter of casing 100 mm
Casing material PVC
Screen Start:24m Stop: 30 m
Pump Type India Mark II
Depth of cylinder 18 m
Well yield 350
Gravel pack Yes
Sanitary seal depth from surface 6 liters per minute
WATER QUALITY TEST
Test Results are from LWI test Kit
Total Dissolved Solids
(as per T.D.S meter) : 120
pH: 3
Total Hardness: 0 ppm
Nitrate/Nitrites: 0 - 0 ppm
Bacteria Test Coliform Bacteria NOT detected ( Colorless or Light Yellow
color)
Chlorination Yes
(It is policy of Living Water International to shock chlorinate water wells at a minimum: after completion of drilling and installation of pump and before use by end users, After the well seal is broken during maintenance or rehabilitation and before use by end users.)
HYGIENE EDUCATION
During the hygiene education, the LWI El Salvador team addresses: Hand washing, how to properly transport and store water, disease transmission and prevention, how to maintain proper care of the pump, as well as signs and symptoms of dehydration and how to make Oral Rehydration Solution. All of these lessons are taught in a participatory method to help community members discover ways to improve their hygiene and sanitation choices, and implement community driven solutions.
EVANGELISM
A LWI El Salvador team member commented, “Gerber, an 18-year-old boy, was helping us to drill the well during the day. We shared the love of God for his life, but he refused to accept Christ. In the end, he did allow us to do a prayer for him, which was great and we hope that he will one day accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.” Before leaving the community, the team distributed 10 Bibles to community families and shared oral bible stories. Considering 80% of developing countries are oral
preference learners, oral disciple making methods are Living Water International’s core component of sharing the Gospel in areas of work. Living Water International provides pastoral care and discipleship of field staff, so pastors and LWI staff are better able to share the Gospel with spiritually thirsty communities. To make disciples of oral learners, LWI El Salvador uses stories, proverbs, drama, songs, chants, and poetry to better engage communities. LWI El Salvador tells Bible stories to community families and asks questions to help guide community members to interpret scripture into their own context.