Nicaragua: Filtering Water, Saving Lives
The Problem
On the North Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua, Indigenous children die from easily preventable waterborne illnesses. The deadliest time is hurricane season, which stretches from June through December. Seasonal flooding carries raw sewage and other pollutants into the water supply. The dirty water brings diseases like typhoid, dysentery and cholera. With no access to clean water or healthcare, even a simple case of diarrhea can quickly become fatal. Most of the time, parents can only watch as their children sicken and die.
Nicaragua’s Indigenous People are particularly vulnerable to waterborne illnesses because the government has not provided health or sanitation infrastructure.
The Solution
MADRE is working with Wangki Tangni to provide a clean drinking supply to Indigenous communities on the North Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua. During the summer of 2009, we tested three HydroWell Village water filtration systems and the results were solid. The systems produced drink enhanced with electrolytes - dissolved minerals that can help people recover from dehydration. Each filtration system makes 200 gallons of clean drink daily, enough for 700 people. They last for years and require no external power source. We are now working with Wangki Tangni to train women in the three communities to operate and maintain the new water filtration systems.The Results
- Access to clean water will save lives and eliminate the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery.
- Women gain leadership skills and improve their status in the community by ensuring a healthy drinking supply for themselves and their families.
