Location
Alto Limon, Hato Juli, Comarca Ngäbe-Bugle, Panama
Community Description
Alto Limon is a community of 132 indigenous people located in Panama’s Comarca Ngäbe-Bugle. Tucked away in the mountains, accessible only by footpath, it has beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, but very little in the way of infrastructure.
In Alto Limon there is a church and there is an aqueduct. Unfortunately, the aqueduct has never adequately served the needs of the people of Alto Limon and they continue to use stream water, which must be carried up steep hills back to the house, and exposes families to the risk of illness from contaminated water.
The problem is worst in the dry season when there is even less water available through the aqueduct and many local streams dry up, forcing people to search farther for water, and escalating a conflict with a neighboring community that uses a water source in Alto Limon for its aqueduct.
There is another spring not far from the current water source being used. Its water would help alleviate existing water problems.
Project Description
This project is to capture the water from the new aqueduct source for use by the community.
Under the direction of the Alto Limon Aqueduct Committee, the project will consist of building a second intake, laying pipe to connect it to the aqueduct and building a splitter box where pipelines from the two intakes meet in order to avoid the possibility of water flowing from the higher intake into the lower intake. At the same time, the flow of water between the rest of the community and the one house connected before the tank will be more equitably divided.
The splitter box is made of concrete blocks and is composed of three chambers. The first chamber is half the size of the box, and inlets from both intakes lead there. The other two chambers are proportioned according to how the water flow will be split and one pipe leads away from each.
The main part of the project is to capture the other water source and connect it to the aqueduct. This will be accomplished by digging back to the impermeable layer of rock where the water is coming out, building a wall to damn up the area and direct the water into the outlet tube. The entire intake area will then be covered with large rocks, on top of that gravel, and finally a cap of cement to seal it off and protect the source from contamination.
The community is committed to making this project happen. Locally available materials will be provided by the community; sand and gravel from the river have already been carried up to the community. The aqueduct committee has decided to pay a local constructor to lead the construction, and the community will provide unskilled labor. The Panamanian Ministry of Health (MINSA) has agreed to provide cement blocks and rebar for the project.
Water Charity funds will be used to buy cement, pipe, and fittings.
Project Impact
The 132 residents Alto Limon will benefit from the additional clean water available to them through this project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Laura Fishman
Comments
This is a necessary infrastructure project for the community. Capturing an additional source of water will drastically impact on the water problem in Alto Limon.
Dollar Amount of Project
$400.00
Donations Collected to Date
$400.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Laura Fishman.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Laura of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Laura and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.