Friends,

Welcome back to my regular Executive Director Update on 33 Buckets’ clean water and sanitation initiatives. If this is your first time, thanks for joining! These updates provide information, directly from the source, on both current, and even future, projects. 

Two weeks ago, we met with the Mayor and other representatives of the Municipality of Mollepata, located in the Anta Province of the Peruvian Andes. Throughout two meetings, we learned a significant amount of qualitative and quantitative information regarding clean water, sanitation, health and more. We explained our process and, ultimately, the municipalities' representatives confirmed their interest and willingness to collaborate with 33 Buckets. Next step: perform a formal assessment in one of Mollepata’s rural communities. At the end of last week, we began that process.

Our team, guided by Sr. Cirilo (the director of Mollepata’s district water management team), traveled to the community of Auqiorcco, home to 42 families. We hosted an assembly open to all community members. Lasting about 2 and a half hours, the meeting provided an opportunity for community members to provide their perspectives on water, sanitation, health and more. They were also able to learn about 33 Buckets, our process, and our vision for a potential partnership. Guided by Auquiorcco’s volunteer water managers, we facilitated a technical evaluation by inspecting their existing water treatment system, collecting water quality samples, and more. We concluded part 1 of our assessment in Auquiorcco by interviewing Urbano, one of the volunteer water managers. He provided in depth insight into the history and current status of water management in the district. Urbano provided his opinion on technical and organizational challenges that they face along with his perspective on working with 33 Buckets to address such challenges. Continue to follow my updates to hear about part 2 of our assessment in Auquiorcco.

Meanwhile, we are advancing our work in the Ccorca District in the Cusco Province of Peru. In Totora and Cusibamba, we are continuing to collect water quality data in 5 different water systems with varying forms of treatment. Simultaneously, we are collecting qualitative feedback from water managers on their experience using these different treatment systems. This process is building our knowledge and confidence in making appropriate recommendations, guidance, and training to our partner communities. At the school in Totora, we are working with school teacher, Sra. Rosio, to plan part 2 of our WASH program for the students. We’ll engage in multiple activities to teach about how water filtration works, how germs spread, best practices for sanitation/hygiene, and more. Additionally, we are working closely with the Municipality staff to facilitate the completion of an aquaculture system that will be used to produce fresh trout in Totora. In the coming week, we’ll be completing our formal assessment of the community of Ccollana and moving forward with recommendations to the leaders and water managers for improvement of clean water access. Lots going on here in Cusco! Check back here next week for another Executive Director Update. Cheers.

Pura Agua, Pura Vida

Daniel Hoop

Executive Director