Kasiche, La Parcela and Wayúumana, Colombia

Kasiche, La Parcela and Wayúumana,
Colombia
Region: La Guajira
Beneficiaries: 211 Indigenous Wayúu
Technical Solution: Well, Solar Pump, Water
Storage Tank, Composting Latrines, LifeStraw®
Family filters
Financed by: Hybrytec through “Ideas para el
Cambio” competition by Colciencias
Estimated Project Cost: ~US $98,400
Project Duration: July - December 2013
Kasiche, La Parcela and Wayúumana, Colombia
About Kasiche, La Parcela and Wayúumana:
Kasiche, La Parcela and Wayúumana are 3 poor, remote
communities consisting of 211 Wayúu indigenous people. The
Wayúu survive on livestock and revenue made from selling
handcrafts, such as bags and hammocks.
Current Water and Sanitation Situation:
There is no clean water source in the 3 communities. Water access
is limited to contaminated ponds and salty wells in the region.
The ponds and salty wells are used for drinking water, bathing,
laundry, as well as by animals. These activities contaminate the
water, making it dangerous for human consumption. Currently, the
communities do not have sanitation facilities and practice open
defecation.
Planned Technical and Educational Solutions:
Hybrytec, Corpoguajira, and Aguayuda teamed together to provide
a 150 meter deep well, which will be equipped by a solar pump
and then will pump the well water into a new 40,000 liter plastic
storage tank. LifeStraw® Family filters will be provided to each
family to assure potable water for cooking and drinking. To prevent
open defecation and illnesses related to the practice, Aguayuda
will install composting latrines in the community with the help of
local residents. Composting latrines require no water, and provide
a valuable fertilizer for agriculture. To ensure sustainability, a water
committee will be established and trained on the maintenance
and operation of the water and sanitation solutions. Additionally,
an education committee will be established and trained with the
aim of educating the community on WASH (water, sanitation and
hygiene) education.
Felipe obtains contaminated water from a well.
Strategic Partners:
Hybrytec S.A.S. is a Colombian company founded in 2007 that
supplies turn-key projects using solar energy. Hybrytec focuses
on providing electricity to off-grid regions and establishing solar
energy, thermal, and photovoltaic systems for grid-tied applications
in industry and residential settings.
Corpoguajira, a governmental entity in La Guajira responsible for
natural resources and the environment.
The open well water is highly contaminated.
P.O. Box 2056 • Easton, MD 21601, USA • +1 410-989-2134 • [email protected] • www.aguayuda.org