Summary of All Projects
July 10, 2008
The Infant Mortality rate in Bolivia in 2007 was 58, which means that 58 children out of 1,000 die in the first year of life. (In the U.S. it is 6.3 per 1,000.) This is the second highest rate in the Western Hemisphere (barely ahead of Haiti). Nearly 100,000 children die each year, primarily from diarrhea. The primary culprit is bad water.
Brief Summary of the numbers
2 Completed Projects which we provide Maintenance/Supervision. Initial Investment of $30,000 and an expected expenditure of $75,000 this year.
1 Completed Project which we may be asked to assist in the Maintenance Supervision. Initial investment of $1.3 million and expected expenditure of $150,000 this year.
6 Active projects with Construction set for 2008-2009. Projected expenditures of $165,000.
6 Potential Future Projects with perspective North American Partners – Estimated initial investments of $590,000.
6 Communities asking for projects that we have visited with.
Total of 21 projects at some level of development at this time. Estimated expenditures in materials alone of $980,000 facilitated by EIA
Completed Projects:
In Maintenance/Supervision Mode
1. Konani Water Well
Location:
The Altiplano – La Paz Department – about 40-50 miles South of La Paz on the road to Oruro.
Initial investment:
$20,000.
On-going materials investment for 2008:
$5,000
In 1993 the Tulsa Southside Rotary Club drilled the second potable water well in the entire Altiplano (High Plain) area of Bolivia. In 1999, an elder of the village said that before the well was drilled, 20-30 children died each year. Since 1993, only 2-3 children die each year. He believes that the total credit belongs to the well. In fact, he said that clean water has meant more to the health of the village and saved more lives then any doctor ever could.
After 15 years of faithful service, the Konani Water well is not producing as much water as it used to. Engineers-in-Action is giving the old well some well-deserved TLC. We are organizing the community to clean and reseal the water tank. This coming month we will be adding new valves, switches and controls. And we are testing to see if we need to re-drill the well or replace the pipe which is ‘down the hole’. Without the work of EIA, this well would become inoperable and abandoned.
2. Inca Catarapi – 80 Eco-latrines
Location:
High in the Andes in the Northern part of the Department (state) of La Paz.
Initial Investment:
$10,000.
On-going materials investment for 2008:
$70,000
The first of EIA’s pilot projects was for Inca Catarapi. Located high in the Andes Mountains, the community wanted to develop some kind of healthy was to handle their waste. In partnership with EWB-MST, an “Eco-Latrine” design was made, and then implemented in Inca. The compost from the eco-latrines can be used as a much needed fertilizer for crop production in this mountainous village.
So far, 15 latrines have been built (two at the school and 13 at individuals homes). EWB-MST has provided the money for materials to build 80 more. However, EWB-MST has moved on and will not return to Inca. EIA is now managing this project, monitoring and constantly retraining the locals on the proper construction and use of the eco-latrines, pushing the community to build the remaining 65 eco-latrines, and purchasing the materials for that construction, 10 at a time, as they complete the previous 10.
3. Chiquitano Forest Preserve – 200 Water wells
Location:
In Eastern Bolivia near Santa Cruz in the Amazonian Rainforest.
Initial Investment:
$1.3 million.
On-going materials investment for 2008:
$150,000
Over the last 4 years, Canadian Rotary Clubs have drilled over 200 water wells in the Chiquitano Rainforest Preserve area in Eastern Bolivia. However, 50 of them are already inoperable due to malfunction and lack of maintenance.
The Chiquitano Rainforest Preserve is exploring a possible partnership with EIA to have EIA provide an engineer who will monitor and maintain these wells so that they can last their full expected lifespan of 10-20 years. This will probably mean one new full-time engineer. David Stephenson, Director of Operations for EIA will be flying to Santa Cruz in January to discuss this with the leaders of the Preserve.
Current Active Projects
1. Rio Colorado – Water Wells, Generator, Showers, Bridges
Location:
In the East, in Amazonian Rainforest, Eastern part of La Paz Dept.
Initial Investment:
$42,000 plus a donated $13,000 generator.
The Boarding School at Rio Colorado is approximately 100 miles from the electrical grid. The School houses 250 students, 6 days a week for 10 months a year. Working with the poorest indigenous peoples of the Rainforest area, 90% of its graduates go on to get a college degree.
Facilitated, first by our pilot project, and now by Engineers in Action, EWB-Missouri University of Science and Technology (EWB-MST) has drilled two water wells (60’ & 80’ deep) and distribution and control piping, build a girls and a boys showers with water tanks and shower heads for the students, 6 eco-latrines, 2 small bridges for vehicles, and has received a donation of a new generator to be delivered and built a generator house and associated wiring and provided donated laboratory equipment for the school. They have put over $55,000 in materials alone into the Rio Colorado Boarding School.
This project is nearing its end, and EIA will provide maintenance and supervision over the equipment.
2. Azacillo – Eco Latrines
Location:
High in the Andes in the Northern part of the Dept. of La Paz; neighboring Inca Catarapi.
Initial Investment:
Rough estimate of $10,000 in materials
Located near our completed Inca Catarapi project; the elders of Azacillo have asked us to bring a team to build eco-latrines in their village. EWB-Kansas University will begin construction in the summer of 2009. EIA developed the project, matched it with EWB-KU, is providing all of the logistical and communications support, and will do the follow up and training once the eco-latrines are built.
3. Tacachia
Location:
Located in steep valley area south of La Paz in La Paz Dept.
Initial Investment:
Rough estimate of $20,000 in materials.
This village is nearly inaccessible to La Paz, despite being close. In the summer of 2009, EWB-MST is going to build a foot bridge across the valley which will provide access to the city for health issues and which will allow produce to be carried across to sell in La Paz. They are also going to be looking in to developing and irrigation system to increase agricultural output. EIA developed the project, matched it with EWB-MST, is providing all of the logistical and communications support, and will do the follow up and training once these are built.
4. Carrabucco
Location:
Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca in the La Paz Dept.
Initial Investment:
Engineering designs only.
Carrabucco is a town of nearly 1,000 persons. The Bolivian government is bringing a trunk line of potable water to the town; but has said the town must figure out how to distribute it and to deal with the waste water problem. The community elders approached EIA, who took the project to EWB chapters, about the problem. EWB-MST is currently developing an engineering design for the distribution of the water to the homes and businesses in the community; and they are designing a waste water system for the town. These designs should be finished by January. EIA has also approached the Bolivian government with regards to their funding of the construction phase of this project.
5. Pompoyo
Location:
Located in the high and dry area in Southern Bolivia near Potosi,in the Potosi Dept.
Initial Investment:
Rough estimate of $10,000 in materials.
This village is looking for a potable water system for drinking and health; with some irrigation. EWB-North Dakota State University has adopted this project. They should begin the construction phase some time in 2009.
6. Potosi Mining/Waste water Clean up
Location:
Located in the high and dry area in Southern Bolivia in the Potosi Dept.
Initial Investment:
Initial Test Project ~ $70,000. If successful a multi-million dollar project is possible in the future.
The Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds (CREW) in the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science at the University of Oklahoma has been working at the Tar Creek SuperFund clean-up site in Northeastern Oklahoma for several years. It has developed a large 9 acre project using a ‘wetlands’ system for cleaning up the waste water which flows out of the abandoned heavy metal mines.
CREW is partnering with EIA to research and implement a demonstration project using a passive treatment system for cleaning up the water which flows out of metal mines in Bolivia. This contaminated water is unfit for human consumption, but is still often used for irrigation and for watering domestic animals. The passive treatment systems developed by CREW rely on naturally occurring ecosystem processes to improve water quality. The eventual goal is to help clean up the waters coming from the famed Cerro Rico mines near Potosi. These mines provided most of the silver for the Spanish in the 16th century (famously stolen by pirates in the Caribbean), as well as tin, lead, zinc and other metals. The first large passive treatment project will probably involve one full-time EIA engineer to be on site for management and maintenance purposes within the next few years.
CREW Director Dr. Robert Nairn and 4 students were in Bolivia in late July 2008 for assessment and the selection of a test site. It appears that we will be working on the Kumurana Mine near Potosi, working with the local mine owner. We have also looked into the possibility of working in Zamora which is near Anchoraimes on an abandoned mine there. Dr. Nairn also taught a short course on the wetlands clean up at the Tomas Frias University in Potosi. Milton, Ruben provided logistics and support for these projects.
Projects starting up in 2009
1. Concepcion
Location:
Located in Eastern Bolivia, Amazonian Rainforest, Santa Cruz Dept.
Initial Investment:
Estimated Initial Investment expected to be $500,000
The Chiquitano Rainforest Preserve Foundation (CRPF) has received a grant from the “Water for Humanity” Committee of the General Electric Water Process and Technologies Center in Canada. This grant is for $500,000 to provide a water purification plant for the city of Concepcion (pop. 9,000) from a nearby lake.
The Chiquitano Rainforest Preserve and GE have asked to partner with EIA on this project. We will provide a full-time engineer to be located in Concepcion. David Stephenson, Director of Operations for EIA, will be meeting with Stan Rosholt, Executive Director of CRPF in Bolivia to finalize this project.
2. Equis Sud – Joint Project with Habitat for Humanity
Location:
Developing a water distribution system and sewage system for an urban community.
Initial Investment:
Estimated Initial Investment expected to be $30,000 in materials and water well drilling contracts
Habitat for Humanity is creating two new communities in Bolivia; one on the Altiplano and the other in the southern area of Bolivia. These communities will have 50-100 homes, built by Habitat for Humanity, and will be placed in a planned community near the city of Tarija. They have contacted EIA and asked us to find an EWB chapter who will provide the infrastructure for the communities such as sewage, potable water, and other needs. It may involve the drilling of a well, or finding other potential sources for water, as well as filtration and treatment. This is a very exciting potential new project that could lead to other joint ventures with Habitat for Humanity.
Equis Sud is located near the city of Tarija in southern Bolivia. The Equis Sud project will be undertaken by EWB-MST with their Assessment trip in November 2008.
3. Patapatani – Micro Hydroelectric, potable water and eco latrines
Initial Investment:
Expected initial investment in materials is around $30,000.
EWB-Norwich University is interested in developing micro hydroelectric plants for small communities. At the moment we are discussing about the feasibility of working in the community of Patapatani. The micro hydroelectric plant could provide the power for pumps for irrigation, as well as electricity for homes and businesses.
Patapatani had an irrigation project meeting with government engineers. We found out that Patapatani is a large area composed of five communities, the largest being Patapatani. The communities are located at different altitudes and all want potable water. We only agreed to provide a general design and potable water for one community. The EWB chapter adopting this community will decide how far they can go in getting funds for this project.
EWB-Norwich will spend 3 days in Patapatani for Assessment in January 2009.
4. Colorado State University EWB
Initial Investment:
Rough estimate of $10,000 in materials.
We established contact with David Longrie from Colorado State University EWB, Colorado Springs. They manifested interest in projects involving aqua duct for irrigation, pump irrigation, and potable water. We sent to them information regarding the following communities: Collani, Zuncallo, and Patapatani. They have submitted a proposal to EWB national for the Collani and Zuncallo communities.
5. EWB-Oklahoma East Professional Chapter
Initial Investment:
Rough estimate of $10,000 in materials.
The EWB-Oklahoma East Professional Chapter is interested in developing an Eco-latrine Project in 2009. 3 members of the group will visit several sites in Bolivia in January and pick which project to undertake. One possibility is Cotani located near Cochabamba.
6. EWB-Texas Central Professional Chapter
Initial Investment:
Rough estimate of $10,000 in materials.
The EWB-Texas Central Professional Chapter is interested in developing an Eco-latrine Project in 2009. We will be recommending the Collani and Zuncallo communities, or one of another 6 communities who have approached EIA about building eco-latrines in their village.
Projects sent to the EWB-USA Technical Advisory Committee to be placed on the EWB-USA website and adopted by an EWB chapter in the US
1. San Lorenzo
Location:
Located in Southcentral Bolivia near Tarija in Tarija Dept.
Initial Investment:
Expected Initial Investment – $30,000.
This project is to enlarge a community Health Clinic in a town of 17,000 people.
This project has been approved by the EWB-USA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and will be on the EWB-USA website soon looking for a sponsor. EIA has developed this project and submitted it to EWB-USA TAC.
2. Capinota
Location:
Located in Central Bolivia in the Cochabamba Dept.
Initial Investment:
Expected initial investment $10,000.
This project is to collect silt from run-off in a steep valley to used to develop additional farmland for one thousand families.
This project has been submitted to the EWB-USA TAC. Approval is pending.
3. Papachacra
Location:
Located in the Tarija Department in Southern Bolivia
This project is to provide potable water to homes and improve the irrigation to farms for a community of 120 families. Water to homes will dramatically improve health, and adequate irrigation will dramatically improve the economy for selling agricultural goods. The Governor has provided water pipes to every house but the water comes from springs and the supply isn’t enough, and there is no filtration system. We want to collect and filter an adequate supply of water for the homes. The EWB chapter will be asked to assess water quality and water sources, do the design, initiate and educate the community and start construction. Construction oversight will be done by the EWB chapter and followed up by EIA.
This project has been submitted to the EWB-USA TAC. Approval is pending.
The Following communities have had a single visit by EIA and are wanting projects. We will be selecting the most promising ones to submit to EIA-USA TAC and to promote with individual EWB chapters.
- Molli Pongo – Intake and Aqua Duct System for irrigation
- Comucala – Intake and Aqua Duct System for irrigation
- Sallacucho – 85 Eco latrines
- Vilaque – Intake and Aqua Duct System
- Puyapuya – Intake and Aqua Duct System
- Pacheria – Aqua Duct System for pump irrigation