The Region
El Riego, Nicaragua is located three kilometers west of the Santa Lucía municipality in the Boaco department of Nicaragua. The community shelters 405 community members united in 113 households, which is divided into three sectors. El Riego has two schools that house 90 school children. Only 85% of the population has access to electricity from the municipal guild. 60% of the inhabitants dedicate the wet season to agriculture, planting beans, corn and wheat. During the dry season (December through May), 15% of El Riego’s inhabitants relocate to Costa Rica in search of work. Additionally, El Riego residents have minimal access to drinking water during the dry season.
Scope of the Project
After Hurricane Iota in November 2020, 356 individuals in the Saint Lucía community in El Riego, Nicaragua were left without a stable water supply. Because of the hurricane, the well pump lost pressure, preventing water from reaching the storage tanks. Though parts of the broken system have been replaced, the well no longer works due to a lack of water. For over 27 months, families have been without water service in their homes and are required to get water from rivers and two old water sources, kilometers away from their households. Our team is working to drill a new well to replace the water supply system and provide the community, now at 653 members, with a safe and stable water supply.
Current Stage of the Project
Five of our team members traveled to El Riego, Nicaragua in August 2023. For this trip, our team has presented initial design concepts to the community, collected household survey data, confirmed material pricing, and discussed land agreements with the community.
Currently, we are at the stage of planning to perform a hydrological study to find an adequate location. This involves considering distribution system piping rework, filtering infrastructure, and installation of solar panels.
In Fall 2023, we also began the W.A.T.E.R Program to teach the community about our water findings, raising awareness, educating about safety practices and uses that promote preservation and sustainability.
The W.A.T.E.R Program:
- Water Data Education: Teaching the community about water data from their sources.
- Awareness and Health Signs: Raising awareness of health signs related to water consumption.
- Training for Safety: Educating them on how to remain safe when using water.
- Environmental Preservation: Promoting the ideas of preservation and sustainability for the project.
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