Poverty in Guatemala

1. Poverty in Guatemala

2. Ayuda para el Altiplano en Guatemala Biosand Water Filter and Improved Stove Project * Quiacquix ~150 km from capital

3. Qualifications Alan Sitter • Bill: • Biosand filter and Sanitation courses from CAWST • Moderate capability in Spanish, including 6 weeks immersion classes in Guatemala • Alan: • Biosand filter course from CAWST • And 4 new Canadian partners who are native Spanish speakers!!

4. Household water treatment cuts the primary transmission route for diarrheal disease and can pay back up to $60 for every $1 invested. 1.1 billion people must walk >1 Km to get water – often of questionable quality 1 child dies every 20 seconds from diarrheal disease UN Millennium Development Goals MDG #7 Environmental Sustainability Target 3: To cut in half by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

5. Quality of Life in Guatemala The Maya who comprise 40% or more of the population are far below the Guatemalan averages. CIA World Fact Book 2009 unless noted otherwise

6. Rio Salamá Water Issues in Guatemala • Waste Water Status • Of 331 municipalities in Guatemala, only 24 have waste water treatment plants; of those most do not function properly • Essentially all of Guatemala City’s effluent goes untreated into Lago Amatitlán and Rio Motagua (140 MMm3/yr) • Supply & Contamination • 54.8% of the population do not have access to piped water • 95% of surface sources are contaminated • Water rights and transit rights for collection lines can be prohibitively expensive (e.g US$125,000 in Lemoa) • Disputes over access to scarce water have led to violent confrontations • Water resources are threatened by high rates of deforestation in some areas

7. Common Rural Poverty Conditions • Minimal cash income/no regular work • Minimal pit latrines if anything • Board, adobe or concrete block house • Carrying wood/water from source • Cooking over an open fire on a dirt floor • Subsistence farming of corn and beans • Poor connection to markets • Frequently off electricity grid • Education limited to maximum 6 grades

8. Cause Year 2000 (per 1,000) Mostly due to open cooking fires Acute respiratory infection 118.7 Acute diarrhea 45.1 Mostly due to contaminated water Intestinal parasites 44.5 Pneumonia 21.6 Anemia 29.1 Leading Causes of Sickness in Guatemala Five principal causes of sickness: data from Ahmed et al, 2005: Environmental Health and Traditional Fuel Use in Guatemala World Bank

9. Appropriate Technology - Filters • Biosand filters • Concrete version can have unlimited life with very minimal maintenance • Requires local workshop and material supply, moderate construction skills • Produces safe water without odour, turbidity or colour • No ongoing operating costs • Can be >95% effective in removing common biological contaminants

10. Filter Lid Inlet Reservoir Diffuser Plate Standing Water Biolayer Sand Zone Gravel Zone Appropriate Technology - Filters Outlet Pipe – 6 mm (¼”) inner diameter (I.D.) • Biosand concrete filters – promoted by CAWST • This diagram shows the functional elements of the biosand filter • The filter works by a) mechanical filtration and adsorption, b) predation of microbes in the biolayer, c) oxygen starvation in the sand zone, and d) natural death of the microbes outside their normal environment

11. Appropriate Technology - Stoves Worst case – open fire on floor inside the home This stove can save 1 ton of CO2 per year! • Improved rocket-box stoves e.g. Ecoplancha • Concrete, purchased in-country, costs less ~ $150 installed • Chimney is a critical part, to remove smoke from the home • Limited skills necessary for installation team; no cement • Extremely efficient; reduces fuel cost and effort; less air pollution • Health and safety benefits with no smoke and open flames

12. What We Accomplished From smoky open fire to a working height, smoke-free & fuel efficient stove 55 TIMES (~150 mothers and children are prime beneficiaries) From untreated water, sometimes boiled, to safe filtered water 46 TIMES (273 family members benefit)

13. Quiacquix – The Target Community Smoke from wood fires Quiacquix has about 250 families scattered over a large area, without a recognizable village centre

14. 5 km The Region of Totonicapán Totonicapán Quiacquix 2700 m Quetzaltenango 2200 m Pan American Hwy Travel Time: 25 minutes by minibus, Quiacquix to Totonicapán (pop. 20,000) 50 minutes by chicken bus, Totonicapán to Quetzaltenango (pop. 160,000)

15. N 0.5 km Future Activities Boundary of Quiacquix 20 minutes to Totonicapán, department capital Chaquiral There are more than 100 families in Quiacquix without filters. Probably more than 100 families have no stove or a poorly functioning one. Surrounding communities of Vasquez and Chipuac have significant needs as well. Communities on the way to Toto such as Nimasec could be targets for projects as well. Note that the amount of productive land per family is insufficient to meet their needs for corn and beans. Pa Ojer K’aib’al Vásquez Schools Chípuac Chuipachaj Paquiacquix School Pan American Hwy

16. Future Activities There is much more to do, in this community of Quiacquix and immediately surrounding ones. For example, this group of more than 100 widows and abandoned mothers is a possible target for our projects. Most would not be able to pay anything for the stoves or filters. In 2011, we might install a few filters and stoves in another community as a test, to develop interest in the products for the future. This community of Santo Domingo Sacatepéquez is a possible target. It is about 3 hours from Quiacquix.

17. Managing the Project • Local knowledge and operating skills are under control • We have a proven capable partner in Asociación AJPU • We have proven we can function in Spanish sufficiently for this project • Local labour has proven to be very capable and energetic • We have received some non-monetary help and advice from the Rotary Club of Quetzaltenango • Transferring and managing funds has proven to be problem free • Most necessary materials are easily available in nearby Totonicapán • The supplier of stoves is efficient in terms of delivery and service • We have located a longer term source for media sand for filters • We will own two Version 10 filter molds • We completed our first project on time and under budget! • Donations = $11,990 Net Expenses ~ $10,893

18. Project Cost – 50 Filters & 50 Stoves These costs are probably accurate within <10%, based on results of our first project. These costs equate to $79 per filter and $150 per stove. Note: Canadian participants will pay all their own costs. 1 Water Quality Testing 2 The co-payment ratio and number of free filters and stoves remains to be decided. All co-payment funds will be carried over to the start of the next project year.

19. Additional Community Needs • Quiacquix, and other nearby communities, could benefit from assistance with: • Starting a micro-business based on filters (we will be working on this) • Improvements to the water source ($5000 up to $90,000?) • Replacement of an adobe school building ($100,000??) • School supplies • Improved latrines (dry composting, >$500 per unit) • School scholarships (Elementary school costs $150-180 per year) • Adult ESL training • Solid waste management and sanitation? • …….. and much more • Please advise us if you are aware of other groups that have the potential to help with any of these needs.

20. The Project Team Andrés is the president of Asociación AJPU. Alfredo has been our main worker in Quiacquix. He also keeps the records of expenses and work performed. We regret that Norma has decided due to personal reasons to leave our team. Back: Juan, Alfredo, René, Norma, Vicente, Pedro, Vicente Front: Alan, Santos, Cristóbal, Andrés Back: Vicente, Cristóbal, Bill, René, Andrés Front: Miguel (mayor of Quiacquix), Alfredo, Lucas Fernando, Itxel, Florcita, Marvin: our newest partners

21. Thank you. For further information contact: For information on biosand filters and other low cost water and sanitation issues, visit the web site www.cawst.org