The Problem
1.8 billion people drink contaminated water
40% of water projects fail
Why? Simply digging a well or giving a water filter makes only a temporary impact. For a clean water project to be sustainable, the local community must be engaged and must be able to independently maintain their water system. Communities must be able to foster a culture that values water and plans for its effective management for the long-term.
Clean water contributes to more than simply the health of individuals. It also impacts poverty through enhancing communities with secure livelihoods, reducing overall health risks, reducing vulnerabilities to environmental hazards, and creating opportunities for growth.
* Davis, S. (2014). Guidelines for Resolution of Problems with Water Systems. (Rep.) Improve International.
Our Approach
Partner with communities and local organizations deliver solutions that fit the needs and desires of those we serve
We partner with small, rural communities made up of less than 5000 individuals who may often be overlooked due to their small size. They are usually highly vulnerable and do not have basic access to resources, knowledge, and services to achieve and maintain clean water access.
Understanding the needs of the user through human-centered assessment
- Direct collaboration with our local partner SDS (Sustainable Development Studies, in Peru)
- Assessment interviews with community leaders, water managers, teachers, and families
- Community-led walk-through assessment of existing infrastructure and resources
- Over 7 years working and living in the Cusco region of Peru
Empower engineering students and professionals to contribute to real-world impact
Since our inception, 33 Buckets has been powered by students, recent graduates, and young people passionate about improving lives through clean water. Our volunteers, student interns, and consultants are the backbone of our clean water mission. Countless individuals have contributed their time, resources, and knowledge to make our impact a reality. With 34 volunteers having travelled internationally to facilitate our projects, 33 Buckets has also created a unique opportuinty for cultural exchange that has a permanent impact that's difficult to quantify.
Our student interns and volunteering professionals make a difference by:
- Researching new approaches and methodologies
- Working directly with local partners and community leaders to learn from feedback and improve
- Communicating with our community of supporters and expanding our team
- Exploring new opportunities for collaboration and partners
- Travelling to the Cusco region and being a part of the implementation of our projects
- Hosting our year-end event, Art-4-Agua
- And countless more essential responsibilities of the organization
Our Solutions
Empower water management teams through tailored training and essential resources
Our team, both local and US-based, facilitates custom, multi-day training sessions for local water management teams, called JASS (Junta Administradora de Servicios de Saneamiento). When possible, we provide critical resources, like water quality monitoring devices, to accompany the training. 33 Buckets works with local individuals with deep knowledge about the lifestyle and culture of our partner communities, water management practices, and the standard operation procedure of local JASS groups. We even make sure that information is provided in both Spanish and Quechua, the native language in our partner communities, to ensure all can learn from our training program.
Topics we cover include:
- General knowledge on water contamination, treatment, storage, and distribution
- Existing infrastructure and specific information regarding their systems
- The roles and management responsibilities of the JASS group and each of its members
- And much more! We strive to cover topics that are most relevant/applicable to each water management team and community
Hands-on activities include:
- Deep cleaning of key infrastructure (i.e. capture points, reservoirs, treatment systems, etc.)
- Facilitating a diagnostic review of infrastructure to determine maintenance, repairs, and improvements
- Performing residual chlorine tests to better understand and execute effective water treatment
- Making adjustments to their water treatment system
- Developing and proposing an Annual Operating Plan to ensure effective management and cover operational and capital costs for the year
Promote long-term change by educating the youth through WASH Workshops
33 Buckets' WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) Workshops are hosted in partnership with local schools to provide a foundation of knowledge and skills for the kids in our partner communities to stay healthy. These workshops are an exciting and inspiring experience for the school children, parents/teachers, and the 33 Buckets Team! It's our hope that these kids will one day be the next generation of leaders and water managers in their community.
Topics we cover include:
- The water cycle and how it plays out in their community
- The basics of water quality, treatment, storage, and distribution
- The endless uses that we have for clean water every day
- Why clean water is important for health and prosperity
- The role and importance of their local water management team
- And much more!
Hands-on activities include
- Filling out a coloring sheet with the different phases of the water cycle
- Creating their own 'Agua Es Vida' flyer in which the students reflect and portray what water means to them
- Practicing handwashing and learning a catchy song that reminds the students how, whe, and for how long to wash their hands
- Glitter activity to display how germs can spread
- And of course, letting the students display their knowledge with a classroom quiz at the end of the workshop