plan 47Restore Water Systems for the Victims of Tungurahu

Summary

To facilitate access to safe water and sanitation services, environmental education and risk prevention to the families that inhabit the vulnerable areas around the Tungurahua volcano, in order to contribute to improve their life quality.

Background

The Tungurahua volcano started a new eruptive process on 1999. Since then, several events affected the population located around this volcano, mainly on 2001 and beginning of 2006.

This event directly damaged several towns of the Tungurahua and Chimborazo Provinces. On small villages located around this volcano, the effect was more harmful because of the partial or total destruction of houses and the productive substructure of this zone.

Additionally, damages to agriculture and cattle, main source of income of most families affected, had a very negative impact, due to hundreds of planted acres were lost and the pastures, that are the main source of food for the livestock of the zone, are contaminated with volcanic ash. The water supply system, used for the human consumption as well as for irrigation and animal consumption, is also contaminated.

Damages to people’s health are also critical. So far, the death of four people and hundred of injured, needing urgent medial attention, was reported. Additionally, the ash fall caused respiratory problems, eye and skin irritation and also gastro-intestinal diseases.

Several public and private organizations are helping in different action fields such us: water and sanitation, security, food, shelters management, agriculture and livestock assistant, road access rehabilitation, etc.

According to the technical-scientific organism in charge of monitoring this volcano (The Geophysical Institute of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional), the actual eruptive process can continue with similar events to those registered on August 17th 2006, and will be necessary to take measures to decrease the risks for the future of the population.Related to water and sanitation

In order to get a closer look to the real consequences of the volcanic eruption on human consumption water supply systems and the conditions of sanitation services on the region, several institutions like Central Red Cross, Chimborazo Red Cross, Tungurahua Red Cross, Red Cross International Federation, CARE Ecuador, Housing and Urban Development Ministry (MIDUVI), have sent professionals for evaluation visits.
The results of the evaluation process of 21 water systems of Tungurahua and Chimborazo, allowed us to identify the following aspects:

1. -Status and operation of human consumption water supply systems, facing the impact of Tungurahua eruption:
− People from towns visited, are receiving water service, in spite of water systems have exceeded the useful life period. The units are deteriorated and have limited operations.

− The water systems structure (filters, impounding and others) are vulnerable to ash contamination during eruption and after it, because of rain and wind effects.

− A high percentage of pipe damaging was identified.

Location

Tungurahua, Sierra, Ecuador
  • 1 participant | show more

    warning mechanisms

    Patricia Dandonoli of WaterAid

    WaterAid thanks you for your submission, and more importantly, your humanitarian efforts to bring aid in the form of water and sanitation to the victims of Tungurahua volcano. Our comment concerns the risks associated with future volcanic activity. Given that you mention the possibility of future eruptions, what, if any, risk prevention/...

    WaterAid thanks you for your submission, and more importantly, your humanitarian efforts to bring aid in the form of water and sanitation to the victims of Tungurahua volcano. Our comment concerns the risks associated with future volcanic activity. Given that you mention the possibility of future eruptions, what, if any, risk prevention/warning mechanisms systems will the project address or put into place?

  • 1 participant | show more

    ?

    Ned Breslin of Water for People

    I agree with some of the questions above. I think the issues of working in volcanic areas is an important question and I look forward to that answer. I am also unclear what the maintenance costs will be and how teh community will finance this over time. Thanks ned

    I agree with some of the questions above. I think the issues of working in volcanic areas is an important question and I look forward to that answer. I am also unclear what the maintenance costs will be and how teh community will finance this over time.

    Thanks

    ned

  • 2 participants | show more

    Budget considerations

    Rob Bell of El Porvenir

    Again, thanks for your work. In this proposal, I don't see a budget. Exactly what will this $50,000 cover? Also, the project cost is $199,800. This $50K plus $50,300 from CARE and $50K locally does not cover it. Is there another co-funder? Rob

    Again, thanks for your work.

    In this proposal, I don't see a budget. Exactly what will this $50,000 cover?

    Also, the project cost is $199,800. This $50K plus $50,300 from CARE and $50K locally does not cover it. Is there another co-funder?

    Rob

    • Rajesh Shah of Blue Planet Network

      Blue Planet Run's message for the 2007 run is $25 gives water to one person for life. While we know its not always true, we are trying to target this year's and next year's funding towards that goal. We can revise it in 2009 based on new facts. Even removing community contributions your project is $149,800 for 1,200 people. This comes to ...

      Blue Planet Run's message for the 2007 run is $25 gives water to one person for life. While we know its not always true, we are trying to target this year's and next year's funding towards that goal. We can revise it in 2009 based on new facts.

      Even removing community contributions your project is $149,800 for 1,200 people. This comes to $125. We want to remain flexible and allow for some separation of sanitation costs to see how close we can come to $25 for drinking water. But this may be too far, if the numbers are correct. If there is a correction (in reply to Rob's question) we will need to recalculate.