Evolution of a Potable Water Partnership in Rural Honduras CEOAS GEMinar 29 January 2013

1. Evolution of a Potable Water Partnership in Rural HondurasCEOAS GEMinar29 January 2013 Michael E. Campana Professor, Geography Program Oregon State University http://www.waterwired.org President, Ann Campana Judge Foundationhttp://www.acjfoundation.org

2. Talk Organization • Introduction/Background • Hydrophilanthropy • Millennium Development Goal • Honduras Project – Phases • The Future

3. My Background • Born in Manhattan (NY, not KS). Grew up on Long Island, NY. Left East for good in 1970 (one year of penance in Atlanta in early 1980s) • Undergraduate degree in Geology – College of William & Mary, Virginia • Learned my water (hydrology) at U. of Arizona – emphasis on groundwater • Spent virtually entire adult life (1970 – 2006) living and working (DRI and U of NM) in arid West (AZ, NV, CA, NM). Rehydration: western Oregon since 2006 • International work: Central America, South Caucasus, Central Asia, Egypt, Europe • Favorite compliment (depending upon who says it): ‘You don’t sound like an academic!”

4. Significant ‘Water’ Events • 1975: Finished graduate work at U of AZ; Desert Research Institute/UN-Reno position. • 1989: Left DRI for University of New Mexico • 1993: Married Mary Frances – amazing support & encouragement! • Mid-1990s: UNM Water Resources Program - “dark side” - policy, management, etc. • Late 1990s: Started focusing on WaSH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) issues in developing regions. Volunteer work with LI and LWI. • 2002: Founded 501(c)(3) - Ann Campana Judge Foundation (www.acjfoundation.org) – funds/undertakes WaSH work in Central America • 2006: OSU arrival; Social Media – WaterWired blog, Twitter, Facebook

5. Hydrophilanthropy - 1 Definition:Altruistic concern for the water, sanitation, and related needs of humankind, as manifested by donations of work, money, orresources.

6. Hydrophilanthropy - 2Alternate definition:“I can’t define hydrophilanthropy, but I know it when I see it.” – M. Campana (apologies to former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart)

7. Hydrophilanthropy in Practice“I really envy you guys. You have the power to keep people from getting sick. By the time I’m called, it’s really too late.”-- A medical doctor, talking to some volunteer water professionals

8. Readings1)September 2010Water Resources IMPACT(http://bit.ly/9ColgZ)2) August 2010 J. of Contemporary Water Research and Education (http://ucowr.org/issue-145)3) ‘Hydrophilanthropy’ category at:http://www.waterwired.org

9. Millennium Development Goal • By 2015, reduce by 50% the number of people who do not have access to an improved source of drinking water (~ 1B) or sanitation (~ 2.4 B) • Requires that each day until 2015, we must provide safe drinking water to about 250,000 people and sanitary facilities to about 500,000 people • Figures are likely optimistic • ‘Improved source’ does not equal ‘safe’

10. Honduras Project – Phase 1 • From 2001-2005, I conducted field course for U of NM Master of Water Resources students in Honduras - three weeks each June. See JCWRE andIMPACT articles. • Worked with Hondureños Alex del Cid Vásquez, Rolando López, and local villagers to help build gravity-flow water systems (dam, tank, piping) in 5 villages in Sierra de Omoa. • Introduced students to hydrophilanthropy and the struggles of many just to obtain clean drinking water.

11. Five villages located in the Sierra de Omoa, a rugged mountain range ~30 km NW of San Pedro Sula Climate: Warm and humid with distinct wet and dry seasons. Average annual rainfall of 250 cm (~100 inches)

13. Rural Water ProjectSanta Teresa, Honduras WR573 2004

14. Alex del Cid Vásquez, “el jefe de agua”

15. Building the Dam • A dam site was cleared above the village near a perennial spring. • A local mason was hired to build the forms and work with the concrete. Sand from the streambed and 20-30 bags (1 to 1.5 tons) of cement were used. • It took ~ 6 days to build the dam and then ~10 - 14 days for the concrete to cure.

17. Dam plans

18. Tank and Distribution System • We leveled a site above the village for a 5000 gallon water tank and dug a pit for the tank platform • Local mason and villagers constructed the tank • Two- or three-inch diameter (ID) galvanized iron (GI) or PVC (plastic) pipe was laid between the dam and the tank site • The pipe was provided by SANAA, the Honduran government agency responsible for rural water supply • PVC pipe was laid from the tank to each house • Agreement was signed between SANAA and village specifying the responsibilities of each

20. Pipe cutting and threading

22. Accomplishments • Helped build five gravity-flow potable water systems serving about 2,000 people • Provided instruction to locals in hygiene, sanitation, and source water protection • Cross-cultural, life-changing (for some) experience for 70 students • ‘Freed’ local women – can do other things besides gathering water; girls can go to school; latrines provide privacy • Gringos can be “good neighbors”

23. Shortcomings • No follow-up – Honduran government agency SANAA dropped the ball (no circuit riders) • Need continued training, support • Sustainability and monitoring & evaluation issues (see IMPACT articles by Christine Casey Matute and S. Moore) Feel good project? • Change in social dynamics of villages – gender roles. Is this good?

24. Honduras Project – Phase 2 • From 2006 – 2009: Little activity in-country. Considered issues of sustainability, capacity building, project development, partnerships. • ACJF accumulated funds • Funded other organizations’ projects in Nicaragua [El Porvenir (http://www.elporvenir.org) and Agua Para La Vida (http://www.aplv.org)] & Honduras

25. Honduras Project – Recent Developments • Alex del Cid Vásquez now city councilor, Municipalidad de Omoa • Alex has convinced mayor, Prof. Ricardo Alvarado, to implement a rural water supply policy (= votes) • He indicated to the mayor that water is an important issue for women and girls: they collect the water (= more votes) • Related issues of education and sanitation: important to women and girls.

26. Honduras Project – Current • Working with Municipalidad de Omoa • Completed system in Brisas de Rio Cuyamel • Almost completed: system in Los Mejias • Have identified 6 more villages needing potable water systems • Municipalidad has provided support: road building, vehicles, running interference, etc. • Working with women’s affairs office

27. Tank at Brisas de Rio Cuyamel

28. Prof. Ricardo Alvarado, el alcalde de Municipalidad de Omoa, con Michael Campana y Rolando López

29. Morality Play – Brisas de Rio Cuyamel

30. Road going up to Los Mejias

31. Road to Los Mejias viewed from Santo Domingo

32. A view of Los Mejias

33. The dam at Los Mejias

34. Los Mejias – pipe anchors

35. Pipe - Los Mejias

36. The food

37. Honduras Project – Future • Anticipate starting work on Rio Abajo water system – June 2013 • Visit prospective projects • Visit Los Mejias and Brisas de Rio Cuyamel systems. Dedication of former’s system • Discussions with Omoa and other officials

38. Thank You! WaterWired blog: http://www.waterwired.org WaterWired Twitter: http://twitter.com/waterwired ACJF: http://www.acjfoundation.org ”The road to help is paved with good intentions.” – Tracy Baker