Project: Phase I And Ii-community Water Project – Wells In Chinandega And Leon, Nicaragua
Partners: Centro Humboldt (El Bloque In Phase I)
Beneficiaries: Phase I brought potable water to 20 communities in the region, Phase II will benefit 50 communities directly benefiting 14,000 people. Phase I began in 2005 and Phase II was approved in December 2006 and will begin upon completion of environmental assesment.
This very successful project brings potable water to small communities in three departments of Nicaragua and will, by the end of Phase II have reached at least 70 communities. By having access to potable water, these communities where the majority of people live in poverty, are no longer faced with high incidences of waterborne disease, which has very positive health outcomes. Outcomes of the project include improved community health and sanitation, improved community self-sufficiency and income security and increased opportunities for women’s participation as women are involved in community management of the wells drilled.
This project is supported by CIDA funding (Phase I and II).
Background information
The departments of Leon and Chinandega are in Northwestern Nicaragua and were the hardest hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. In 2001, while still struggling to recover from the devastation of the hurricane, the region was hit by a severe drought, which resulted in the loss of virtually 100% of agricultural production in the first harvest cycle of the year. Soil has been degraded by deforestation and cash crop farming and the water table has largely been contaminated. Most people who live in the region are sustenance farmers growing corn, beans, wheat, and sesame. Access to potable water is a major problem in rural areas and the Nicaraguan government makes little effort to address this basic need of the population.