Over 9 million Argentineans lack access to safe drinking water. In rural, isolated communities in the northern provinces, groundwater is contaminated with arsenic and not suitable for human consumption. The lack of safe water poses a significant health risk to the families. EWB-Ar works to implement rainwater catchment and storage systems in these isolated areas, including in San Antonio de Copo. With your support, we can help secure access to clean drinking water for this indigenous community.
San Antonio de Copo is a rural indigenous isolated community with a lack of safe drinking water. During the dry season, many families resort to drinking contaminated groundwater which has led to frequent health problems, particularly among children. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the need for clean drinking water by highlighting the importance of proper hygiene and sanitation in limiting the spread of this virus.
Rainwater catchment and storage systems are a long-term and cost-effective solution for these sparsely-populated areas, with each system sized to meet the specific needs of each household. Rainwater will be collected off the roofs of these houses during the wet season, stored in a storage tank, and used during the dry season to ensure that there is an adequate drinking water supply. It has the additional advantage of that these families are not dependent on outside assistance.
This project will provide long-term and sustainable access to potable drinking water to 120 people in the community of San Antonio de Copo. It will also promote socio-economic development by significantly reducing the time that these families, particularly women, spend on acquiring water. 25 community members will also participate in the construction of these systems, increasing their technical skills. Finally, the project will support community-building and cooperation among these families.
