From Amazon to the Andes: WASH Projects in Rural Peru

摘要

Engineers for International Development (EfID) at George Mason University have worked ontwo projects in Peru over two years, stretching from the Andes Mountains to the AmazonRainforest Basin.EfID’s program started with the “Agua Para San Isidro” project in San Isidro, Peru in 2010. TheSan Isidro project required the demolition of an existing 15,000 liter ferrocement tank andinstallation of two 10,000 liter polyethylene tanks for water storage.In August 2011, the program expanded to work with the Maijuna peoples near the Napo andPutumayo Rivers in the Amazon River Basin. Work with the Maijuna was established through a4-year Memorandum of Understanding with the local community for future projects regardingwater, sanitation, and hygiene, also known as WASH. The first phase of this relationshipaddressed drinking water quality concerns by paying for and teaching the community how toconstruct 100 slow sand filters, also known as a biosands filter. In addition, a hygiene promotionprogram was set up for education regarding sanitation and hygiene. The second phase of therelationship will address various sanitation solutions, further hygiene education in thecommunity, and seek a sustainable biogas solution for energy or heating.