PROPOSAL FOR NEW WATER SYSTEM for the Town of Carmelita Guatemala, Peten

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Brook Patterson
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1 PROPOSAL FOR NEW WATER SYSTEM for the Town of Carmelita Guatemala, Peten Submitted by: Rotary Club of Pacifica, CA (USA) And Rotary Club of Flores, Guatemala Date: February 20, 2014

Overview The Rotary Clubs of Pacifica, CA and Flores Guatemala are seeking $45,000 to design and construct a water system for the town of Carmelita, located in Peten, Guatemala.

3 Overview The Rotary Clubs of Pacifica, CA and Flores Guatemala are seeking $45,000 to design and construct a water system for the town of Carmelita, located in Peten, Guatemala. Carmelita borders the Mirador Basin and is the gateway community into the Mirador Basin. The Mirador Basin is a geographically defined region of northern Guatemala and southern Campeche, Mexico which contains the largest and earliest ancient Maya cities, nestled in the last tract of pristine tropical forest. The sites date to the middle of the late pre-classic periods, ca BC-AD150. As a result of visits by Rotarians, the community has expressed the need and desire to educate and motivate the community to become stewards of this unique natural and cultural environment through providing community based incentives. As a consequence of several visits and interventions, the community has expressed the need to develop an adequate water system. Water, next to employment, has been identified as their top concern. Work funded by this proposal will (1) include some of the best technology available for water purification and cistern construction, in Guatemala; (2) Utilize El Mirador's existing cistern designs, already tested in the climate and harsh conditions of the Peten; (3) Employ the local citizens and educate them how to take care of their new system and to develop a business plan for providing purified water for domestic consumption and tourism infrastructure; (4) Improve the health of the 75 families in Carmelita; (5) Protect the community from low water surplus during the dry season; (6) provide additional impetus for water conservation in the area. General Carmelita is one of the most northern villages in Guatemala and is commonly coined the gateway community for hikers, archaeologists and local Peteneros to enter Mirador Basin and embark on the week long round trip hike in the jungle. 75 families live in the village, with an approximate population of 425. The economy is reliant on the timber industry, forest extraction products and the jobs created by the Mirador Basin Project. Despite efforts to improve the community's conditions in recent years, access to clean water does not exist and as a result, many people suffer from bad health. Currently, the community relies on two ponds of polluted water, and rain water collected from village roofs---but this only works during the rainy season. In addition, the community relies on the small stream located to the south east and the two small watering holes located on the south-west side of the community. Due to animal excrement, washing, and agricultural runoff, the existing water sources are heavily contaminated. Concept This proposal introduces a relatively inexpensive way to solve the water issues in Carmelita while at the same time providing a desperately needed water source for the tourists and the archaeological teams. After this proposal is implemented, the community will have their own micro-enterprise business based on filling 5 gallon water jugs that

Without a water storage cistern, the community typically runs out of water, during the dry period each year.

4 follow the national health standards for water. These jugs can then be sold to the tourist groups and teams of scientists and conservationists. Identified Need Approximately 2,000-3,000 tourists hike into El Mirador each year and approximately half stay the night in Carmelita. Without a water storage cistern, the community typically runs out of water, during the dry period each year. The Mirador Basin Project has devised a water collection and storage mechanism that has proven to be economical, reliable, and efficient by the construction of large underground cisterns in the site of El Mirador. This mechanism combined with state-of-the -art water purification system (promoted by Aguas de Unidad) that is being used in over 25 towns in Guatemala is an ideal solution for the people of Carmelita. Design Elements 1. Lamina Roof for Rainwater Capture The community center's roof covers 270 square meters and the school roof covers 406 square meters. Altogether, 676 m2 of lamina is needed to collect rainwater from the school and the community center roofs. All together 1,014 m3 of rainwater is expected to annually flow into the cistern. Capacity of the cistern is 380 m3. If the cistern fills to capacity, additional water can be pumped to water storage containers, already located in Carmelita. photo 1: Proposed Water System 1. Construction of a Cistern This cistern will be based on the designs used at El Mirador and will have a total capacity of 380m3. The materials will be concrete, sand and gravel, held together by re-bar. The underground pit will be dug out using manual labor unless; there is a feasible way to get a back-hoe to Carmelita to save time and money. Locals living in Carmelita and skilled workmen from El Mirador will be given priority for labor. 2. Construction of New Building This proposal includes civil construction, interior finishes, windows, doors, window protection, lighting, electricity, and drainage. The size of the building will largely dictate the overall cost, along photo 2: Mirador Basin Cistern & Workers

with the type of construction employed. We are proposing a 4m by 4m building to be installed in Carmelita, plus a 10% increase to cover construction of the building in a remote area.

Water Purification System and Building This efficient, easy to use and cost effective purification system and building has been implemented photo 3: Rotoplas & Filtration in over 30 cities in

5 with the type of construction employed. We are proposing a 4m by 4m building to be installed in Carmelita, plus a 10% increase to cover construction of the building in a remote area. This estimate is for construction of a building similar to that of the Aguas de Unidad ( system in Cuidad Real but using local available materials and labor for construction. 3. Water Purification System and Building This efficient, easy to use and cost effective purification system and building has been implemented photo 3: Rotoplas & Filtration in over 30 cities in Guatemala by Aguas de Unidad with high success rates. Considering that the rainwater will be stored in a relatively clean, dark, cistern environment, the minimum level of treatment would be chlorine contact in a small tinaco (Rotoplas), filtration with a sand filter and then carbon filter, and ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection after filtration. If the supply has hard water (greater than 150 mg/l hardness), a water softener would be highly recommended to minimize scaling of the treated water. If 5 gallon tombos are to be supplied as part of the system, there will be additional initial and ongoing costs for the system including the 5 gallon bottles, seals, tops, detergent and chlorine for the tombo bottle washer, and a heat gun to heat shrink the seals on top of the tombos. The buildings will be setback from the existing street and vegetation will be planted around the facility to protect the facility from harsh sun exposure and damage. 4. Household Water Filters We recommend replacing the HELPS International filters that were introduced to Carmelita in 2003These filters have been very popular and used in every household. Prenatal care has improved as a result and levels of diarrhea and dehydration have diminished. photo 4: Water Filter Project 2008

6 Cost Breakdown ITEM COST ITEM 1 - Roof $4, Laminas (197) for the roof $ Screws $ Transportation $1,000 Labor Sub Total $6, Cistern (380 m3 capacity) $3, Material (cement, etc.) $9, Labor $1, Supervision/travel costs Sub Total $14, Water Purification System $8, Water Purification Building $5, Water Purification Equipment Install $1, gallon jugs for water Sub Total $16, Facility Landscaping $1, Community Training $2, HELPS Household Filters $2, Grand Total $42, Timeline: Helps delivered June, 2014 Lamina Roof July, 2014 Cistern September, October, 2014 Water Purification System September, October, November Community Inauguration & Workshop - November Estimated Date of Completion: November 30 th, 2014.

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