3 out of 5 children under the age of five in Nicaragua have been treated for acute diarrheal disease (EDA) in the past two weeks. This waterborne disease is completely preventable with proper water purification. By sponsoring clean, safe drinking water for the 215 families in Rio Plata, you can improve the entire community's health, enabling the children to spend time in school, not the health clinic, and empowering their parents to live healthier, more productive lives.
Rio Plata is a community of 1,800 people comprising 215 households. The community has a water tank can hold up to 12,000 gallons of clean water at full capacity, but they need a way to purify it to ensure that it's safe to drink - especially for the children. Without properly treated water, diarrhea is a daily reality that prevents children and even adults from keeping nutrients in their bodies. Chronic illness makes it very difficult to go to school to learn or work to support your family.
Our trained technician will teach the community how to install & maintain a CTI-8 water chlorinator system which will eliminate the bacteria from the water being stored in the tank. This is a simple, locally-appropriate, and effective solution to purifying drinking water. Having a consistent supply of chlorinated water immediately and significantly reduces the incidence of acute diarrheal disease so families can lead healthier, more productive lives.
The CTI-8 system is durable enough to last 5 years or more. Since it's made of PVC pipe and valves, any damaged parts are easily replaced. At just $3 - $6/month for chlorine tablets, the ongoing maintenance is affordable. Our staff provide extensive training and follow-up to ensure proper maintenance, and educate residents about hand washing and sanitation practices. Communities with a CTI-8 demonstrate higher levels of education and community sensitivity about water and public health long-term.