Summary of All Projects
July, 2010
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
5 Completed Projects which we provide Maintenance/Supervision. Initial Investment of $102,000 and an expected expenditure of $18,000 this year.
Active projects with Implementation Trips set 2010. Have spent in ’07-’09 – $51,000 Projected expenditures in 2010 of $1,118,000.
Potential Future Projects with perspective North American Partners – Estimated initial investment
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 through 12/09 = $143,000. Expected expenditures on materials in 2010 $1,108,000. Expected expenditures in 2011 and beyond by these projects $
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:
$15,000.
On-going materials investment anticipated for 2010:
$3,000
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. (For more info go to: http://engineersinaction.org/ongoing-projects/konani
2. Inca Katurapi – 70 Eco-latrines
Location:
High in the Andes in the Northern part of the Department (state) of La Paz.
Initial Investment:
$22,000.
Anticipated On-going materials investment for 2010:
$5,000
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 (for more info go to:http://engineersinaction.org/ongoing-projects/inca-catarapi)
3. 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
4. Carabucco – Engineering Plans for Water distribution
Location:
Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca in the La Paz Dept.
Initial Investment:
Engineering designs only.
Carabucco is a town of nearly 1,000 persons. The Bolivian government brought a trunk line of potable water to the town; but 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 developed an engineering design for the distribution of the water to the homes and businesses in the community; and they a waste water system for the town. These designs were adopted and the project was completed using Federal, state and local government funds.
5. Obrajes – Duke University
Location: Obrajes, just outside of Oruro
Initial investement of $10,000 in 2009. Another $10,000 in 2010.
This non-EWB team came to Bolivia on their own funding and had discovered their own project. But they needed some ‘in-country’ support as they built a vehicle bridge across a wash that the government was unable/unwilling to do. The concrete was hand mixed and hand poured for this bridge.
Current Projects:
1. Chiquitano Forest Safe Water Project
Location: Eastern Bolivia, in the world’s largest tropical dry forest.
Initial investment: $1.3million by the government to drill the wells, but left only open casing above; no pumps. Approximately $300,000 by a variety of Rotary Clubs to put in hand pumps.
Expected Funds put into community in 2010: $150,000
Repairing and maintaining 71 hand pumps and adding 130 new hand pumps to government funded drilled water wells. Eventually we will have 200 hand pumps on potable wells serving the 60,000 people of the Chiquitano Forest. For more info go to http://engineersinaction.org/projects/current-projects/chiquitano
2. Kumurana Mining/Waste water Clean up
Location: in the high and dry area in Southern Bolivia in the Potosi Dept.
Initial Investment: Construction of this System should begin in November 2010. Initial cost will be approximately $800,000. If successful a multi-million dollar project is possible in the future.
EIA is working in an elaborate partnership with many different organizations to clean up the heavily polluted water flowing from abandoned mines in the Potosi area. EIA is providing the ‘on-site’ engineers and is deeply involved in the negotiations and coordination involved. For more information go to http://engineersinaction.org/projects/current-projects/potosi
3. Tacachia
Location: Located in steep valley area south of La Paz in La Paz Dept.
Initial Investment: Through 2009 they have spent $20,000.
Anticipated expenditures for materials in 2010: $30,000
This village houses a Methodist Orphanage and is nearly inaccessible to La Paz, despite being close. EWB-Missouri University of Science & Technology has been working there since 2008 and will probably continue through 2012. There have put in eco-latrines, irrigation, bio-sandfilters in homes, and are looking in to a feasible design for the bridge. For more info go to: http://engineersinaction.org/projects/current-projects/tacachia
4. Erquis Sud – Joint Project with Habitat for Humanity
Location: Developing a water distribution system and sewage system for a new Habitat for Humanity near Tarija.
Initial Investment: EWB-MST spent $10,000 in 2009. They are anticipating spending $45,000 in 2010 on materials and water well drilling contracts
Habitat for Humanity is creating a new community for homeless folks near the city of Tarija. Habitat is selecting the families and building the homes. EIA has been asked to provide the electricity, potable water, and sanitation facilities. EWB-MST began implementation in 2009 . . . .For more information go to: http://engineersinaction.org/projects/current-projects/equis-sud
5. Cotani – EWB-Oklahoma East Professional Chapter
Location: In the “valleys” are around Cochabamba
Initial Investment: EWB-Oklahoma East spent $6,000 in materials in 2009. We are anticipating approximately $10,000 this year as construction accelerates.
The community, led by the health nurse at the clinic, asked EIA for help in building eco-latrines. EIA found a chapter willing to take up this project; in our own backyard.
The EWB-Oklahoma East Professional Chapter, also located in Tulsa and with many crossover members between EIA and EWB-Oklahoma East was immediately interested in developing this project. an Eco-latrine Project. They did a pre-Assessment trip in January 2009 . . . for more info go to: http://engineersinaction.org/projects/current-projects/cotani
6. Pampoyo – Blue Ridge Professional Chapter
Location: Located in the high and dry area in Southern Bolivia near Potosi,in the Potosi Dept.
Initial Investment: Initial Implementation in 2010 will cost approximately $20,000 in materials.
This village is looking for a potable water system for drinking and health; with some irrigation. EWB-Blue Ridge Professionals have adopted this project. They did their Assessment trip in 2009 and should begin the implementation phase in 2010.
7. Suncallo – EWB-Colorado Springs Professional Chapter
Location: Near Lake Titicaca.
Expected costs for materials for Implementation in 2010 – $10,000
EWB-Colorado Springs Professional Chapter is taking on this project. Their Assessment Trip was in March of 2009. This project is going to involve bringing potable water into the village and using aqua ducts for irrigation. They are also going to plug an abandoned mine which is polluting the scarce available water. EWB-Colorado Springs Professionals installed a water tank and connected it to the distribution system in July 2011.
8. Papachacra – EWB-Purdue
Location: S21*,31,654 HO64*58,641
Expected costs for materials for initial implementation is $10,000
EWB-Purdue is working with this community to bring potable water to a high and arid land in Southern Bolivia. They did their Assessement Trip in 2009. They are planning on doing their first Implementation trip in late 2010.
9. Cachitambo – EWB- Florida University
Location: High arid land near Potosi
Expected costs for materials for initial implementation are undetermined
EWB-Florida University is focusing on Agriculture in this project. The community is in deep need for water suitable for irrigation, which is scarce in this arid land with many severely polluted streams from the massive and ancient abandoned mines in the area. EWB-Florida will be looking into providing clean water and looking into greenhouse construction. They did their Assessment trip in 2009 and plan on an implementation trip in late 2010.
10. Sorata – EWB- University of California at Davis
Location: Near to La Paz
Expected costs for materials for initial implementation is $15,000
EWB-U Cal/Davis is joining with a group of Swiss Families in providing potable water and irrigation to this community. The Swiss families are providing the money and EWB-U Cal/Davis is providing the engineering and design. This partnership put together by EIA, is an example of the kind of partnerships we hope to provide in the future.
11. Zamora – Inerios Sans Frontiers – Dresden Germany
Locatation: Near Lake Titicaca
Expected costs for initial implementation trip is $10,000
ISF-Dresden contacted us and has taken on the Zamora Project. It is going to include providing potable water and irrigation to this community, as well as plugging an abandoned mine which is polluting the scarce water in the area. ISF-Dresden did their Assessment Trip in 2009 and is preparing for their initial Implementation Trip in September 2010.
Projects starting Implementation 2011
1. Patapatani – Micro Hydroelectric, potable water and eco latrines
Location: High in the Andes North of La Paz.
Initial Investment: unclear at this point
EWB-Norwich University did an Assessment Trip in 2009 and is interested in developing micro hydroelectric plants for this small community. 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, and found that irrigation andfor potable water was a great priority.
For more info go tohttp://engineersinaction.org/projects/current-projects/patapatani