Water Security & Sanitation
While access to clean water may only be a turn of the handle on a faucet for most of us, it is a daily struggle for millions of Guatemalans. For the villages in the highlands, the struggle for clean water is further complicated by the long dry season and the steep terrain. During the dry season, many families walk up to two hours for enough water to last three or four days. Some rely on run-off during the rainy season that is collected in open catchment systems.
Hands for Peacemaking Foundations water catchment projects, while it does not solve all the water security issues for a family, makes and impact.
A sealed 2,500-liter tank collects rain run-off during the rainy season. This water can be drawn upon during the dry season to lessen the mount of trips to water sources. The amount of water, if conserved, can allow families enough water through most of the dry months. As part of the projects in the villages, Hands for Peacemaking identifies areas that multiple tanks can be installed for a community water source.
As part of our water catchment & stove program we supply families with water filters to purify the water as well as reduce the need for burning more wood to boil.
Hands for Peacemaking also builds latrines, Pila’s and instructs villages on hand washing and hygiene methods.
