EWB-UMN in Simajuleu, Guatemala
Background
In lieu of EWB-UMN's past successes working with Long Way Home in Guatemala, we have taken on another project in conjunction with the organization. The University of Minnesota EWB chapter is currently working with EWB Minnesota Professional Chapter and Long Way Home on a project in Simajuleu, Guatemala. Simajuleu is a small village of approximately 2500 residents which lies 20 km from the city of Comalapa.
Currently, the village is obtaining drinking water conveyed through PVC pipes from mountain springs 10 km away. As is, the system in place diverts the water from the nearby mountains to one-third of the villages population every three days, leaving the other two thirds without water for two days. This fragile infrastructure along with non-existent source protections have led to contamination and shortages of water for the village. Dysentery and other microbial infections are cited as the number one cause of illness and hinder the villages advancement and productivity. EWB-UMN plans to address these issues with a solution that will provide a sustainable and adequate supply of safe, potable water for Simajuleu.
Current Status
 Over the winter break of the 2007-08 school year, four students from EWB-UMN and three members from EWB Minnesota Professional Partners went to Simajuleu to conduct an initial project assessment. The group took to the tasks of: conducting a community health assessment, surveying the land, performing water quality testing, GPS tracking of existing water resource infrastructures , and consultation with a hydrogeologist. The crew also made contact with several local agencies interested in collaborating on the project: Long Way Home and Chuwi Tinamit.
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