Tacachia, Bolivia – 100 families

(Located in steep valley area south of La Paz in La Paz Dept.)

This village is nearly inaccessible to La Paz, despite being close. It is the home of a Methodist Orphanage, and the home of approximately 100 families. EWB-MST did an assessment trip in August 2008 to look into building 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 also found many other issues including potable water, irrigation and sanitation.

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.

On EWB-MST’s first implementation trip in 2009, they built eco-latrines, ran water lines, started construction of a water tank, and did health assessments and other engineering assesssments. In July 2010 they worked on additional designs for the bridge, an irrigation implementation, and implemented and trained residents on the use of biosand filters for homes. This project is expected to continue through 2012 and beyond.