March 28, 2016 COCIRA DIRECTOR’S MEETING CIENEGA DE JUANA RUIZ

10:00 am CIENEGA DE JUANA RUIZ

Today Lee Carter, Rotary, traveled to meet with the Directors of COCIRA & talk about the newly approved Global Grant (GG1524911) for 319 more cisterns in San Miguel, Dolores Hidalgo & San Diego Union. 

The grant is for US$199,400 (approx. MXN3,500,000).

There were approx 29 people present incl. Meche from CEDESA. After everyone presented themselves, we had a moment of reflection before beginning the meeting. A meeting leader was elected as well as the Secretary of the Day. Following that the agenda & a time schedule for finishing the meeting by 2:30 was established.

Meche emphasized the importance of COCIRA to continue to develop its independence & to look at CEDESA & Rotary as resources while they made their own decisions in things that affected the organization.

Lee Carter announced that the next grant for 319+ cisterns had been approved & explained that the Rotary Foundation would like to have a MOU with COCIRA and UCCANG in addition to CEDESA. This is important as it formalizes all of the responsibilities that COCIRA has been taking on over the course of the last water project. Lee presented the list of responsibilities that he recommended for the MOU & after discussing them in detail, COCIRA was in favor of all.

COCIRA for its part is asking Rotary to provide them with the didactic materials developed for the new grant so that they can use these as they continue to evaluate all of the cisterns built since 2008. COCIRA is committed to completing their role in the whole water harvesting process. As we have budgeted printing hundreds of extra copies of didactic materials in the next grant, I believe that we can provide them with what they need without having to increase our printing budget or seeking additional funding outside of the grant.

COCIRA further discussed the “rules & guidelines” that they would like to place on beneficiary families including a simple contract between COCIRA & the beneficiary that they would complete their obligations & work. Other rules were suggested that would ensure that beneficiaries completed their obligations in both the education program & in the construction process.

It is a great pleasure seeing COCIRA carrying out their role with such vigor & enthusiasm to ensure that this next project will be a great success.

Lee Carter

Rotary San Miguel Midday

STATISTICS UPDATE DECEMBER 2015

WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED TO DATE (December 2015)

Since the successful collaboration in Los Torres (3 phases), we have completed projects in Montecillo de Nieto , Cruz del Palmar, Vivienda de Arriba, Capaderillo, Palencia , Vivienda Urbana, Tierra Blanca, Juan Gonzalez, Cinco Senores, Villa de Guadalupe, Cienega & San Lorenzo, Presita de Santa Rosa, La Tinaja,Guerrero,3 Esquinas (near Palencia),Cruz del Palmar phase II,Corralejo,Vivienda de Arriba phase II,Tierra Blanca phase II...

New Water project team have to date completed projects &/or pilots in Los Magueyes, La Palma, Viviendilla, Exhacienda Peña Blanca , Exhacienda de Jesus(San Caytano & Adjuntas de San Jose, as well as La Banda

Presa Allende, Lindero & Alonso Yanez, plus in  Juan Gonzalez Phase II,  XH Peña Blanca Phase II, Vivienda de Abajo Phase II & San Lorenzo Phase II, Montecillo de Nieto Phase II & the work continues!!!

MASSIVE THANKS to the women, men & children in all of the participating communities – for showing us your strength, courage & commitment to improving the lives of yourselves & future generations - living with such dignity often under incredible hardship.

***Please see further gratitude extended at the end of this post

Numbers:

751 Cisterns 

29 Communities 

39 projects (this is counting each “mini project” also multiple phase communities)

Ie 4800+ family members (+ other school & kinder children) 

TOTAL FUNDING SUMMARISED:

Rotary US$317,588    (including direct grant private donations)

SMCF US$10614

Sapasma mxn$953353 (ie approx. US$73334)
Fondo Verde mxn$150,000(ie approx. US$11,500) + US$21,850
Lotus Foundation mxn$93530

Other donations to date US$1000
+ $750 in memory of Merle Howard 2015
+ $800 in memory of Gordon Logan 2015

+ $5000 donation from Walla Walla Rotary 2015.

(total approx. US$449,630)

IN THE PIPELINE:

Pending grant for $199,400 ie 314 more cisterns planned.

Participating: TRF + 10 Rotary Clubs, from 8 Rotary Districts + 3 Foundations

November 2015 – A new  Global Grant application was submitted to TRF for 314 cisterns at a cost of US$199,431. 

Ten percent of the budget is to fund a new educational component. Partners are TRF, Lotus Foundation, Simi Sunrise Rotary, Middletown Rotary, Grand Cayman-Sunrise, Nanaimo Rotary, Harlingen Sunburst, Titusville, Somerville, Grass Valley South, Districts 5240, 4160, 6930, 6600, 6940, 7980, 5190 and 3720 (Korea). Also San Miguel Community Foundation and Fondation Coup de Coeur (Canada).

Additional New Team Projects since last update Aug 2014 

Sept 2014 – start of new Global grant for $78,000 to fund 110 cisterns (we have actually stretched that to 124 so far as at Dec 2015) Partners are Lotus Foundation, Rotary Foundations, Eau Gallie Rotary Club and District 6930

The 124 cisterns completed as part of this global grant to date are:

October 2014 - Juan Gonzalez phase II – 16

January 2015 - Banda and Montecillo de Nieto phase II – 17

March 2015 - Vivienda Urbano (Abajo) Phase II – 10

April 2015 - Alonso Yanez and Lindero – 38

June 2015 - Presa Allende – 22

August 2015 - San Lorenzo Phase II 2

August 2015 - ExHacienda de Pena Blanca Phase II 19

2nd New Team Project - Completed July 2014 19 + 2 Cisterns from here included in Update Aug. 2014.

Summary of Funding
ExHacienda Pena Blanca 19 Cisterns

Lotus Foundation Mxn$72056 

(nb this amount was under budget & the balance will be counted in the next project planned - global grant)
Sapasma Materials Donation value mxn$82,954.69

Planned for ExHacienda de Jesus - which became San Cayetano 1, Adjuntas de San Jose 1 (*municipality of San Diego Union)

Lotus Foundation Managed by RSMM

mxn 15077


1st New Team Project - Completed May 2013 18 Cisterns

Summary of Funding
Chinook Rotary Direct Grant $5000 , 
Rotary of Middletown Direct Grant $3021  
District 7980 District simplified Grant  $2320
Rotary San Miguel Midday $200 
(total USD$10,541)

Los Magueyes 8 cisterns
La Palma 8 cisterns
Viviendilla 2 Cisterns (1 at school, 1 demonstration cistern at factory)

Completed May-Jun 2012 11 Cisterns

Summary of Funding

San Miguel Community Fund $5911

Tierra Blanca 11 cisterns

Completed Jan-May 2012 169 cisterns in 8 Communities

Summary of Funding

Global Grant Rotary $65,300

Direct grants & donations $21,147 breakdown as follows:

Tallahassee US$10k club & $2.5k private donation
Port Lavaca  US$6k
Peggy Purcel US$462.45
Pancake breakfast fundraiser $14950pesos
Excess funds from Port Lavaca/New braumfels proj. $11420pesos
Excess funds from Cap II proj. $487pesos
Excess funds from Bellingham water proj. $1163.5 pesos
private donation $250pesos

La Tinaja 22 cisterns

Cruz del Palmar 41 Cisterns

Guerrero 20 Cisterns

Tres Esquinas 24 Cisterns

Tierra Blanca 23 Cisterns

Corralejos 15 Cisterns

Vivienda de Arriba 10 Cisterns

Los Torres 14 Cisterns

Completed Nov 2011-Jan2012 60 cisterns in 5 communities

Summary of Funding

Sapasma mxn$435399

Chris Hosford private donor US$500

Los Torres 18 cisterns (Phase IV in this community)

Presita de Santa Rosa 21 Cisterns (Pilot paid for by private donation - thankyou Chris Hosford, 20 cisterns funded by Sapasma)

Cienega Juana Ruiz 18 Cisterns (Phase II in this community)

Lomas de Cocina 2 Cisterns

Cinco Senores 1 Cistern 
(**)

Completed March – Jun 2011 134 cisterns in 6 communities

Summary of funding

Rotary $44,000

Fondo Verde mxn$150,000

Sapasma mxn$435,000

Tierra Blanca 28
Juan Gonzalez 22
funded by Global Grant from Baton Rouge Capitol City RC & District 6200 US$33,500

(completed June 2011)

Tierra Blanca 14 - direct grant donation from New Braumfels RC $2k, & Port Lavaca RC $7k

(completed June 2011)

San Lorenzo 4
Cinco Senores 11 (incl pilot in JG)
Fondo Verde Mxn$150k

(Completed June 2011)

Villa de Guadalupe 27
Cienega Juana Ruiz 26
Sapasma mxn$435k

(completed June 2011)

Villa Pilot x1
Cienega Pilot x 1
Bellingham RC US$1500

(completed June 2011)

Completed Jan 2011 – March 2011 25 cisterns

Summary Funding

DSG Tallahassee $3800,Tallahassee RC$6000,Walla Walla $7000

Vivienda Urbana (Cap II) 25 cisterns

Completed Jan 2009 – Jan 2011 Total 188 cisterns in 6 communities.

Summary Funding
Rotary$81,800
SMCF$4,703
Fondo Verde$21,850
Skymed $500
total funding = USD $108,853

Palencia 21 Cisterns $7k (+ balance of excess from other projects)

Capaderillo 40 Cisterns FV US$21850

Cruz del Palmar 28 Cisterns combined $24700

Vivienda de Arriba 17 Cisterns

Montecillo de Nieto 30 Cisterns $16700

Los Torres 52 Cisterns (27+4+17+1+3) Including $21,700 + 12,200+smcf US$2468+ smcf 2 U$2235  

= 188 cisterns (& 4 rotoplas tanks)


FURTHER GRATITUDE IN THE FORM OF A VERY BIG THANK YOU IS EXTENDED TO:

A BIG THANK YOU to all the hardworking men & women belonging to the Rotary Clubs & Districts & the Foundation who have been part of this solution:

Ann Arbor RC USA

Baton Rouge Capital City RC USA
Bellingham RC USA

Calgary RC Canada
Eau Gallie RC USA
Middletown RC USA

New Braumfels RC USA

Paso Robles RC USA

Port Lavaca RC USA

Richmond RC TX USA

Sechelt BC RC Canada

Tallahassee RC USA
Trail BC RC Canada
Tyron RC USA
West U RC TX USA
San Miguel Midday RC Mexico
Districts 4160, 6060, 6200, 6940, 7670, 7980

& THE ROTARY FOUNDATION (Ashley & Lauren)
(not including pending project)

HUGE THANK YOU’s to:

Cedesa, (especially Beatrice, Abel, Holly, Chela, Saul – The TEAM!!), & our family members who put up with long, late hours…

Sapasma (Previous Administration - Camilo, Waldo, Alva, Juan Jose & the other promoters & the new administration)

Fondo Verde

Alberta Govt’s Community Initiative Program (BC Canada)
The Lotus Foundation (private donor)

The many other private donors/supporters

Our Suppliers, especially Raul from Hierro Comercial Dolores Hidalgo, Eric our Herreria & his boys, Jesus our sand guy, Madera Providencia, Cemex, Talego, Don Pedro,

Our Banks: Frost Bank, Bancomer, Monex, Intercam, CI banco,

Our accountant (wish we had her in the early days) : Liliana

Our publicity: Atencion!,

Members & Board of San Miguel Midday, for continuing support, attending Inaugurations, making speeches on behalf of the project, attending meetings with govt, fundraising!

Lee Carter: answering all the tricky finance questions in the past & leading the new team Alejandro, Denis & Alex, &  for the new Projects
Gary Reid for continuing to take excellent photos for us.

Year End Update – December 28, 2015

The last part of 2015 has been busy with many activities. 

Since we last posted we have completed the 19 cisterns in Ex-Hacienda de Pena Blanca and 2 in San Lorenzo. Alejandro and I traveled there many times during the construction phase taking with us the new CEDESA technician; Abel. 

Abel is doing a great job & by going with him we were able to demonstrate many of the details in cistern construction. In the course of this project, we made some good modifications to how we install the hatch. 

Alejandro & I went to the final celebration which was a wonderful event with folkloric dances &, as always, a lot of good food.

As well, we have spent a lot of time in Vivienda in the last 2 months working on 5 cisterns needing repair. This has been a good experience & was needed to get us started on the new Repair & Maintenance booklet that we will produce & hand out to new families in 2016. 

Robert Ash of MAPEI went with us one day & his expertise in cement construction & waterproofing was invaluable. We took Abel with us to learn more about this part of the cistern projects.

We have been doing a lot of cistern inspections to build a database of the cisterns constructed … 751 now! … & to learn more about how cisterns hold up over time. The answer to that question is; very well. 

Did you know that a leaking faucet dripping one drop every second will result in the loss of 50,000 liters of water a year? That is equivalent to more than four full cisterns of precious rainwater! 

Overall, our observation is that families take very good care of their cisterns. They should because they worked very hard to build them.

Since August I have been to 2 COCIRA meetings incl. a “grand encuentro” where we had representatives come down from UCCANG to join us. I have been to 2 UCCANG meetings in Dolores Hidalgo. 

UCCANG are an impressive group of campesinos. This organization was started 35 years ago & our local COCIRA organization was founded using them as there model.

We have had a wonderful year in water harvesting. We have built 108 cisterns in 7 communities. We are nearing the end of our current grant & we have now made an application with the Rotary Foundation for another 314 cisterns! 

There are 10 Rotary Clubs, 8 Rotary Districts & 3 foundations participating in our next grant. Lotus foundation continues to be a major supporter of our work & they have generously donated US$10,000 to the next project. San Miguel Community Foundation has once again stepped up & donated another US$7000 to our next water harvesting project. It is especially rewarding when Rotary Clubs & Rotary Friends continue to come back & involve themselves in multiple projects with us.

Thank you everyone for your support & encouragement. 

Particular thanks to Alejandro & Beatriz, my compadres in the water harvesting team, & thank you Laura Stewart for always being there to help me, advise me, & calm me. It’s not an easy job.

Best wishes for a new year with lots of rain! J

Lee Carter

Rotary San Miguel Midday

Global Grant Project Update August 2015

We have been very busy since our last post in July. 

In early August, there was a meeting of COCIRA in the community of Boca de Canada. It is a stunningly beautiful place in San Miguel. 

COCIRA has really become a strong organization and there is now a council of Directors who are anxious to move the group forward in many areas in addition to water harvesting. There are 12 Directors, a representative from 12 different communities. They are taking on the task of inspecting and evaluating all of the cisterns that have been constructed since 2009 when Laura Stewart began this long and enjoyable journey.

Boca de Canada is a new community with water problems. They have been attending COCIRA and other community meetings for several months now. New communities coming for the first time were Tlaxcalilla (no water whatsoever), Saltrillo (contaminated water and wanting dry toilets) and Begona de Progreso (contaminated water). Now they have the information necessary to go back to their communities and discuss the possibility of joining COCIRA and seeking various resources that come from being part of COCIRA and having a relationship with CEDESA. In addition to Rotary funded water projects, backyard vegetable gardens, health clinics using medicinal plants, apicultura (beekeeping) and dry toilets are among the many things that can be accomplished on a community level when the inhabitants come to gather to work in teams for the betterment of all.

Mago attended this meeting as the CEDESA representative as Chela has been sidelined with a knee problem. Mayra, Carolina and Hilaria came as promoters in sub-regions that have been set up to better serve the San Miguel municipality. Lee attended as Rotary’s representative.

Dates were established during the meeting to do “inspection and evaluation” of the Presa Allende project and to finish up the final inspections at Alonso Yanez and Lindero. The closing ceremony for Presa Allende was set for 22^nd of August.

In August Mago traveled to Ex-Hacienda de Pena Blanca to finalize the organization and teams for this second phase project. There are 19 families participating and we are also supplying two 1,100 liter tinacos to capture rainwater at the houses of two much older persons who are not able to do the work necessary to construct the 12,000 ferro-cement cisterns. Benigno, the master cistern builder from CEDESA, will be the technical representative on this project and Abel is being trained to become the cistern technician for the San Miguel area.

Hierro Comercial delivered the materials for the pilot cistern in Ex-Hacienda de Pena Blanca for  two cisterns in San Lorenzo on August 22^nd and construction began on August 24^th. Lee delivered the plywood and took the "nipples" back to Eric’s so the heavy wire reinforcing could be welded onto the galvanized parts that penetrate the cistern walls. Alejandro arranged with the department of social development of the municipality to make water truck deliveries each week of the project as there is no water in XHPB to even mix the cement.

As planned above, on August 22nd we had our closing celebration in Presa Allende with more than 80 persons in attendance. Ivar, Alejandro and Lee went from Rotary. Chela’s knee is improving and she attended with Meche and another CEDESA visitor. 

On Aug 25^th Alejandro and Lee went back to San Lorenzo and XHPB to deliver the reinforced "nipples" for the pilot cistern. This was a great opportunity to talk at length with Benigno about the construction process and the techniques and decisions the technical rep. needs to make in regards to how and where cisterns are located.

On Aug 27, Holly and Lee went to CEDESA HQ in Dolores Hidalgo to review with Chela the new education program that will be added to our next grant. Welcome back Holly! The eight modules were reviewed and we had time to talk about how this can be implemented by having promoter and then later COCIRA and UCCANG workshops to build enthusiasm for the program. Holly will be working hard with Rotary to develop the modules and copious auxiliary materials to distribute in the communities where we will be working.

On Aug 28th all of the new Presa Allende cisterns were inspected by a team of COCIRA representatives, Alejandro, Beatriz and Lee of Rotary and Meche of Cedesa . The new inspection program appears to be a very valuable activity as it gives us an opportunity to meet individually with every new cistern owner to reinforce the importance of maintenance activities and disinfection of the collected water. We are finding new ways to improve the projects overall and where to avoid problems.

  

On Aug 31, Alejandro, Beatriz and Lee went to see the progress in San Lorenzo where we were served a delicious breakfast of atole and gorditas. Abel from CEDESA went along with us and I was impressed that he is very thoughtful and dedicated to the success of the two current cistern projects. From San Lorenzo we went on to XHPB to check on the completed pilot cistern and to see where the next cisterns would be located. Because this community has so few construction workers (too far from San Miguel) we also needed to purchase some basic tools to lend to the project.

On Sept 1, Lee traveled back to XHPB to deliver the remainder of the tools needed and also the reinforced "nipples" needed for that week’s construction. This is the first project that we have undertaken since Saul left CEDESA (to develop his personal business). It has really been a little difficult because Saul used to take care of so many little details (taking and returning "nipples", for instance). He also had the "luxury" of having a CEDESA truck to be able to accomplish the many errands. CEDESA does not have a truck that can be used by Abel at this time. It has fallen on Rotary’s shoulders to do all of this detail work. Whereas I am happy to have a chance to work on and learn about every little detail, it is not practical that we do this for all future projects. Lee has been discussing with Chela (CEDESA) and our project partners for the next project of obtaining some additional grant money so that a truck can be available to the CEDESA workers in the San Miguel region. Saul used to be the promoter, coordinator, technician and all-around boy Friday for these projects. Moving forth and having different persons filling the different roles is requiring that we establish clear communication systems and cooperation to be able to operate efficiently. This mini-project is proceeding reasonably well - we are on a steep learning curve.

It was a busy month and I have not even reported it all!

Submitted by Lee Carter, Rotary San Miguel Midday, September 7, 2015.

Closing Celebration Alonso Yanez and Lindero July 23, 2015

Today Beatriz Sauceda and I traveled to Alonso Yanez and Lindero to attend the final celebration for this 38 cistern project. We also took a young woman named Karen with us who is photo journalist. She also makes short

documentaries and is interested in documenting some of our work here in San Miguel.

We arrived to a very large crowd of over 70 adults and many many children. We had visiting delegations from Boca de la Canada, Presa Allende, Cienega de Juana Ruiz, and Coralejos. When we arrived the food was already spread out in several locations and people were having their "almuerzo" - late breakfast.

Mayra and Carolina were attending the event in the role of CEDESA promoters. Chela unfortunately could not come because she is having problems with her knee. We had a brief program where the community groups introduced themselves and I said a few words about the cistern program and what a pleasure it was to work in a sucha a beautiful community and with people who were willing to work so hard to bring "agua de calidad" (quality water) to their families. 

You may remember that these communities have 4.95 mg/litre of fluoride in their water - a gravely serious situation (WHO maximum recommended level is 1.5mg/l) It was nice to see that they really "get it" about the dangers of the fluoride and there is already an even larger group forming for a future rainwater harvesting project. 

We also discussed the importance of staying involved with COCIRA and CEDESA to take advantage of other programs such as back yard gardening, health clinics and bee keeping. Beatriz spoke elegantly about the power of women in changing their lives, and their family's lives, through their organizing and working in teams. It is the women who take on the cistern building work and they are approx 95% of the participants in our projects.

After an introduction of the visitors from other communities, project participants from both Alonso Yanez and Lindero spoke about the process and work that went into the cistern project. The municipal delegate spoke briefly about the importance of this project and the issue of high fluoride levels in their community. He encouraged everyone to become more conscious of the dangers of the well water, especially for children, and the importance of gestating a next phase of cisterns in their community.

After our meeting, a huge meal was spread out including moles, green and red pozole, huaraches, quesadillas and more. Delicious! Normally we do not know how many children attend our events but today was different. An ice cream truck was passing by and Beatriz flagged it down announcing that she intended to buy an ice cream cone for each child there. There were eighty ice cream cones served!

It is days like these that remind us all of why we love working in rainwater harvesting so much!

Submitted by Lee Carter
Rotary San Miguel Midday

Planning Next Grant and a visit to Ojo de Zarco

July 1, 2015

Today I met with Chela Martinez, Director of CEDESA and Cece, coordinator of CEDESA promotors. We discussed in depth future plans for water harvesting within the Independence Aquifer.

Particularly we were able to lay out plans for who will be the promotor for various micro-regions of COCIRA and UNCANG. We will be submitting a new Rotary Foundation Global Grant request in August that includes a robust education program, “water days” in the communities, and the construction of the next 250 to 300 cisterns. I am pleased how the additional education program can be integrated into our community development and organization process.

COCIRA, the regional water council of communities in the San Miguel area, and UNCANG, the regional water council in the northern part of the aquifer, will be taking on the responsibility of evaluating and inspecting all cisterns between the end of the construction period and the final celebration. They will administer a survey that will give us specific information to be used to improve future projects and to achieve that critical last 5% in assuring that we finish each mini-project with 100% of the water harvesting systems fully functional. 

We also discussed leaving a small inventory of cistern parts and repair materials in communities that stay involved with COCIRA and UNCANG so that small problems can be immediately attended to before they develop into bigger problems.

The COCIRA/UNCANG groups will also returning to visit each of the 725 cisterns we have constructed since 2009. This is an intermediate term program that will take 12 to 18 months to complete. We want to assure continual monitoring and maintenance as to have the maximum number of functional water harvesting systems possible.

I look forward to receiving the surveys so that we can guide beneficiaries to do the best maintenance possible and maximize the quality of their drinking and cooking water. This work will lead to even better success in our new projects.

After lunch, Chela and I went to our third community organizational meeting in Ojo de Zarco and Purisima de Ojo de Zarco. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the community turned out for this meeting.

There were 54 families stating their interest in joining together for a project. We explained the process of what they must do to become eligible for the Rotary/CEDESA resources. They learned of the water harvesting program from some families in Los Torres where there have been four phases of cistern projects resulting in almost 100 cisterns in that community. It was agreed that the next step would be all potential families willing to do the work to earn cistern resources would meet in Los Torres on July 22 to see the cisterns at work and talk with past participants about the work necessary to have a successful project. It is a great pleasure to travel to these communities with Chela who now has 43 years of experience in community development work.

Submitted by Lee Carter, Rotary San Miguel Miday

Inspections and Monitoring GG1422619

We have gotten off to a good start in our new monitoring and evaluation program. The COCIRA council is taking this work on as their responsibility. They will be inspecting every cistern constructed during this grant and will be administering a survey as well as noting the GPS coordinates of each cistern. 

We are finding that there is a common set of problems that we can discover soon after construction: leaks in the galvanized plumbing, confusion in connecting the gutter system to the cistern, leaks in the cold joint at the base, leaks where the galvanized nipples penetrate the cistern, no first flush mechanism installed. None of these problems, individually, seem persistent, but when they are all taken together as a group, it is clear that early intervention on our part will improve the success of the project ie ultimately, our work monitoring will lead to minor tweaks to the construction process that will lead  overall to an improved process.

From our inspections thus far, we have been generating a list of “recurring problems” with appropriate solutions to those problems.. This is being developed into a “Use and Maintenance Manual” that we intend to publish and distribute to all project beneficiaries later in the summer or early in the fall. We are seeking simple solutions using materials commonly available in each community when possible. For problems of a more serious nature that would render a system completely dysfunctional, we are meeting with experts to look for the appropriate repair techniques and materials for those relatively rare cases. 

One possibility being discussed is placing about US$100 worth of commonly needed materials and repair parts with the COCIRA council member in each community to have an inventory of immediately available repair parts. The thought is that the council member would collect the cost of the materials as they are dispensed and then use that to replenish the inventory to maintain a perpetual supply.  

We are also considering returning to each community from this project to have a “Water Day” where we can individually consult on any problems and their solutions, where we can talk more about water safety and the benefits of using bio-contamination disinfection methods to improve water quality. We believe the opportunity for additional training and education will enhance the sustainability of these projects.

In addition to the evaluation of the cisterns built during this grant, the COCIRA council has indicated they are willing to go back to visit and inspect all cisterns constructed since 2009 – ie approx 725 cisterns in total. Collecting this data and using it to improve future projects will lead to better utilization of our future grant funds. Knowledge is power.

Submitted by Lee Carter, Rotary San Miguel Midday