From Amazon to the Andes: WASH Projects in Rural Peru

Engineers for International Development (EfID) at George Mason University have worked on two projects in Peru over two years, stretching from the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Rainforest Basin.EfID7's program started with the “Agua Para San Isidro” project in San Isidro, Peru in 2010. The San Isidro project required the demolition of an existing 15,000 liter ferrocement tank and installation of two 10,000 liter polyethylene tanks for water storage.In August 2011, the program expanded to work with the Maijuna peoples near the Napo andPutumayo Rivers in the Amazon River Basin. Work with the Maijuna was established through a 4-year Memorandum of Understanding with the local community for future projects regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene, also known as WASH. The first phase of this relationship addressed drinking water quality concerns by paying for and teaching the community how to construct 100 slow sand filters, also known as a biosands filter. In addition, a hygiene promotion program was set up for education regarding sanitation and hygiene. The second phase of the relationship will address various sanitation solutions, further hygiene education in the community, and seek a sustainable biogas solution for energy or heating.