Report: Quirragua, (Province of Matagalpapa, Municipality of Matiguas, Nicaragua) integral drinking water project

A gravity water project delivering clean water and a latrine to individual houses, education for maintenance, long-term hygiene and sanitation, and the preservation and reforestation of the watershed.

Quirragua is a small and highly dispersed rural community of 21 very primitive houses 45 kms north of the town of Matiguas. Accessible by a dirt road, it has neither electricity nor a clinic. There is an elementary school for the first 5 grades and two evangelical chapels. Its inhabitants live largely from subsistence agriculture.

Before the construction of the gravity system the population drew its water in part from small creeks that crossed this settlement and in part from unimproved pits dug by the population. In all cases the degree of pollution of these sources of water exceeded tolerable levels and was seen to peak sharply during certain periods of the year.

The primary element of this project was a gravity system drawing water from an abundant spring by a conduction line to a tank and thence to a distribution network of water stands next to individual houses. The system was designed for a population of 194 persons expected to occupy the area within 15 years. The project includes maintenance training for the local Maintenance Committee, an individual latrine for each household, a comprehensive hygiene and sanitation education program, and a reforestation program.

This project is one of three (including El Carmen and San Isidro) which make use of the same spring.

The construction of the water system started May 18th,20 09 and finished January 15, 2010. One change in the planned program was the sale of eight of the houses and parcels of the village to new occupants for various reasons of economic hardship. The APLV policy is to never provide a faucet next to an uninhabited house and since the new owners had not yet occupied their houses eight fewer faucets were built though the connection can readily be made once the houses are occupied in the near future.

The length of the conduction line from the spring to the tank is 336m. The tank capacity is 5 cubic meters, and the distribution network for this rather dispersed settlement is 6,642 meters long. There were 5 classes for maintenance training and a total 18 classes on hygiene, the preservation of the environment and the organization of the permanent committee and the handling of its finances.

Excessive consumption of water is inhibited by the installation of water meters for each house, and a water tariff which increase considerably when the allotted daily amount is exceeded.

Drinking Water Committee
A Drinking Water Committee was formed early in the process of assessing this project and has remained organized and has demonstrated leadership in the community. The creation of this committee is a key element in ensuring the sustainability of the project. The committee members received training in management, administration, maintenance, watershed management and efficient use of the water resource.

Health and Hygiene Education
The objective of the Health and Higiene Education Program is to guarantee that the families of the community receive the maximum possible benefit from access to clean water and sanitation. The APLV team works directly with families and school children on personal hygiene, gender issues, latrine maintenance, food handling, trash management and water conservation.

Watershed Conservation
The following activities were undertaken as part of the APLV watershed conservation program:
• Workshops on land management practices that promote an ecological approach
• Creation of a protected area surrounding the spring
• Measurement and demarcation of the watershed
• Installation of a fence around the protected area
• Development of a long-range watershed management plan

Finally, Agua Para La Vida has been working with rural Nicaraguan communities for over 20 years. Our long-term presence in the region enables us to maintain contact with our partner communities to provide on-going assistance.

One change in the planned program was the sale of eight of the houses and parcels of the village to new occupants for various reasons of economic hardship. The APLV policy is to never provide a faucet next to an uninhabited house and since the new owners had not yet occupied their houses eight fewer faucets were built though the connection can readily be made once the houses are occupied in the near future.