Providing Safe Drinking Water in Guatemala Through Collaboration, Metering, and Monitoring

Abstract

In 2007, Engineers Without Borders was contacted by Simajhuleu to help them repair their drinking water system. Simajhuleu is a small village located 50 kilometers Northwest of Guatemala City in the Central Highlands of Guatemala. The initial request was for assistance in installing a new water supply line from a remote spring to the Village. The initial assessment trip in January 2008 discovered the existing pipeline from the spring to the Village was conveying the water available at the spring to the Central Distribution tank in the Village 10 Kilometers away. Since 2008, Engineers Without Borders has visited the Village multiple times to study the Village’s water system. This has included investigation of both social and technical behaviors affecting the water flow in Simajhuleu. This investigation has revealed deficiencies in the Supply, Distribution and Demand components of the water system. The goal of the water improvement project is to improve social and physical well-being by securing ample, reliable, potable water for all residents of the village.