“During the last few years, the water pressure in my community has decreased by a large percentage. I feel physically tired from carrying water from the well 10 minutes from the house for my family’s consumption, animals and the family garden,” Hilda Velásquez Gómez, a resident of the municipality of Comitancillo in Guatemala, shares.
The municipality is characterized by its mountainous climate and dependence on subsistence agriculture. Climate irregularity and limited access to clean drinking water pose significant challenges for local communities. The municipality is provided with water through aquifers in neighbouring municipalities, with only 15% coming from sources in their communities. Additionally, only 23% of the population has access to water in their homes through the supply of pipes, whose installation costs must be covered by individual homeowners.
To address these issues, PWS&D supported a project through our local partner, AMMID, to implement rainwater harvesting tanks as a sustainable and efficient solution in rural communities.
“Now that they have given me a water storage tank, they will be of great help to me for my activities at home. I know that I will no longer be carrying water every day, and I will have more time to do other things at home. I will take more care of my family garden, which is one of my priorities with the water tank. I chose this change because water is life; without water, we cannot live,” Hilda expresses.
Water is Life
The implementation of the water tanks means Hilda and other families in the communities will be able to drastically improve their quality of life, and in particular, women, who are often the ones fetching water, will no longer be required to walk miles to do so.
Families now have improved access to safe drinking water, reducing the chances of waterborne diseases and improving hygiene practices. Livelihoods will also be significantly improved through increased crop production and diversity by irrigation and collected water, mainly in dry seasons or summer.
“[Water] is also a fundamental right that we have as human beings. Imagine what our life would be like without water?” Hilda inquires. “I share AMMID’s philosophy that we must take care of mother earth and the natural resources. If we take care of water, we take care of our lives.”
