Location
Piscopampa, Mache District, Otuzco Province, La Libertad Department, Perú
Community Description
Piscopampa, a satellite community of Lluin, is located in the mountains of La Libertad at an altitude of approximately 3,350 meters (11,000 feet). It has a population of approximately 250, with about 50 households. Nearly half of the population is below the age of 18 years.
The community of Piscopampa suffers from a severe water shortage, with most families receiving tap water for only a half hour daily. Community members must store as much water as possible from this short time period to use throughout the day for drinking, cooking, washing, watering and other household uses.
The rainy season lasts for only a few months of the year, and there is not enough rain year-round to sustain vegetable gardens to improve the nutrition of family members. Those that maintain such gardens must divert potable household water for irrigation.
Because very few families have plumbing systems, there is no proper management of waste water used for bathing and the washing of clothes and dishes. The poor management of greywater contributes to the spread of diseases in the community.
Project Description
This is a greywater management pilot project. Five families from the community of Piscopampa will be equipped with greywater systems that effectively manage waste water.
Each system will be built on the property of the participating family. Because most families do not have sinks or showers, waste water will be poured directly from plastic receptacles used for washing and bathing into a brick and cement collection chamber. This chamber will help filter out solids that would clog the system. The water will then pass through tubes and filter up through holes in the tubes and through gravel to water the vegetables.
A mason will be hired for the cement and brickwork. The funds will be used to buy and transport the materials and to hire the specialized labor of the mason.
All other work, including digging the ditches and installing the tubes, will be done by members of the participating families. The District Municipality of Mache will provide the support of an engineer to oversee the design and installation of the systems.
Project Impact
The 25 members of participating families will immediately benefit from the project. It is anticipated that all 250 people will benefit when the concept is proven, costs are brought down through scale, and the other families replicate the wastewater system.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Megan Vees
Comments
This project will serve to reduce the risk of disease transmission, and provide purified water for growing vegetables. It will also leave a greater supply of water for drinking and other household uses, since water will not have to be diverted for irrigation.
Awareness will be raised in the community about the benefits of good waste water management. The demonstrated benefit of installing greywater systems will encourage other families to implement their own systems.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Megan Vees of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Megan 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.