Project Launch: December 2020
Population Served: 250 families
Location: -13.5472623351, -72.0764691021
Cusibamba is home to about 250 families and is the largest community in the Ccorca District. The community is divided into five sectors which receive their water from three storage reservoirs. Local water managers, known as JASS members, reported drastic swings in chlorine levels with their current approach and system.
Problem: Some parts of the community also experience water shortages during the dry season. We traveled door-to-door with municipal representatives to interview community members on their perceptions and behaviors surrounding clean water and sanitation.
Our Action: In December of 2020, we worked directly with Ccorca’s municipal water team and the Cusibamba’s JASS group to implement a new chlorination system in the community’s largest reservoir. We also provided digital chlorine meters that enable water managers to independently monitor their water quality. We trained Cusibamba’s JASS group on the systems operation and maintenance, supplying translated manuals for both the chlorination system and the testing device. Community and municipal leaders have expressed their satisfaction with the project and their ability to consistently produce clean water for the population of Cusibamba.
Now, we are working on plans to implement systems in Cusibamba’s remaining two reservoirs. We also have started a collaboration with Arizona State’s EPICS (Enginereing Projects in Community Service) program to develop a rain water harvesting system to alleviate water shortages during the dry season!
