In July of 2024, a team of public works professionals from the APWA Chicago Chapter International Committee traveled from the U.S. to a very small, isolated, rural community in the highlands of Ecuador. The community of El Obraje has about 200 people and there are no school or health facilities within an hour walking distance. The community is primarily supported by subsistence farming, where the people eat what they grow and there is limited outside income. About 40 years ago, a water distribution system was built utilizing a spring that is located over a mile away. Recent earthquakes and landslides have diverted that underground flow and also damaged the piping system that brings the water from the spring to the community. Right now, the existing water system can only supply about 115 people at the rate of about 20 gallons a day. For reference, the average American uses over 100 gallons a day. The community has to ration water so that everyone has enough to drink. In addition to the lack of water, the existing water tank is lower in elevation than 15 of the 55 homes. A new spring was discovered adjacent to the creek at the base of the community. This new spring will be able to supply water for over 400 people at the rate of 20 gallons per day. However, the new spring is over 800 feet in elevation lower than the highest homes in the community. A pump system with interim tanks, will be designed, built and installed in 2025 by a volunteer team from APWA and EIA. “After this session, participants will be better able to:
Explain international volunteer opportunities for public works professionals.
Explain challenges that extremely rural and isolated communities face to get safe water, wastewater and transportation services.
Describe several specific projects being conducted in Ecuador right now.”
Contributor/Source
Julie Lomax-Stormwater Administrator, Karen Kase-Natural Resources Manager
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