Project—Santa Clara

Building A Better World, One Community At A Time

EWB - Washington DC Chapter

Potable Water Project: Santa Clara, El Salvador

Project—Santa Clara, El Salvador

Santa Clara (approx. pop. 3,165) is a rural community located between the larger communities of San Rafael Oriente (pop. 16,929) in the San Miguel region and Santa Elena (pop. 16,054) in the Usulután region of El Salvador.

The people of Santa Clara suffer many hardships, as the majority live in suboptimal conditions without adequate housing, education, or an improved water source and the community’s residents are burdened with a high incidence of water-related illness.

This project will have a comprehensive approach to preventing illness by improving water supply and key hygiene behaviors, especially ensuring safe household drinking water and food, proper personal and domestic hygiene, and effective use of sanitation.

Water system components will include: a pump, slow-sand filter, tank and distribution network that will serve 300 households equitably. To complement these efforts, this project will train three promotores de salud, or lay health educators, to provide hygiene education and promotion, training and demonstrations to community members.

The planning, development and implementation of this initiative has been community-driven, and the resultant water system and health promotion program will be community-owned and operated.

For more information about this project please contact EWB-DC or e-mail;
Julie Sherwin
jsherwin@alumni.nd.edu