Full Title: Safe and Reliable Water for Five Communities in Ecuador
This grant will support five communities in southern Ecuador to access safe and reliable drinking water. Over one thousand people live in these rural communities and rely on locally run water systems to meet their basic needs. By repairing water systems, protecting and restoring water sources, and providing technical training on water management and conservation, these communities will be able to meet their basic needs for water and sanitation.
The five communities (Cazaderos, Gramadales, Cabeza de Toro, Arenal, and Cochas) are located in the municipalities of Zapotillo and Puyango in the dry forest of southern Ecuador. The tropical dry forest is the most ecologically threatened ecosystem in Ecuador. It is also an ecosystem that exposes its inhabitants to weather extremes. Communities depend on the four-month rainy season to provide water throughout the year, including the eight-month dry season. The key to ensuring water availability during the dry season is the conservation of local forests and water catchment areas (sources).
Despite the critical role that these water catchment areas play, many are being degraded by livestock and agricultural activities which affect water quality, contaminating the water supply with E.coli bacteria and fertilizers. Cattle also diminish the capacity of vegetation to retain precious water from rainy season in the soil to last into the dry season. In addition to the threats at the water source, the communities report that their water systems are also not being well managed and need repairs at both the intake and treatment areas.
To overcome these challenges, the project will focus on three main components:
1. Repair damaged water systems: The repair of water systems will allow water to be treated adequately and prevent leakage so that users can have clean and more abundant drinking water.
2.Comprehensive training on water system management: Local leaders will be trained on the generation, conservation, collection, and treatment of the water as well as optimizing their water systems and distribution. This component will ensure the availability of water in the communities and the longer-term sustainable management of the water systems.
3.Conservation and restoration of water sources: Agreements will be signed with local farmers who own or use land in the catchment area. In collaboration with community leaders, the project will educate them on the importance of conserving the water source and identify incentives for them to identify alternatives to using fertilizers and grazing/ watering cattle in the catchment area. Examples include, fences, water pumps to pump water for their cattle away from the catchment area and/or provide them seeds and tools to farm in alternate areas and/or using alternative methods.
Rotary volunteers from District 5340 and 4400, will work together with the organization Nature and Culture International to ensure water for local people in Zapotillo and Puyango. Nature and Culture International is a non-profit organization who has worked over 20 years to conserve Ecuador's dry forest, in concert with local communities.
Paid
This project is "Paid". This means the funds have been received and the project is being implemented.
Project listed for the 2021-22 Rotary Year.
The TRF Grant application number is #2128220.
Proposed Financing
Existing Contributions Towards This Project
Date
Cash
DDF
Total
Solana Beach (5340)
28-Oct-20
$10,000
$10,000
$20,000
District 4400 DDF
12-Nov-20
-
$2,000
$2,000
Escondido Sunrise (5340)
15-Dec-20
$2,500
$0
$2,500
Encinitas (5340)
22-Dec-20
$2,500
$2,500
$5,000
San Marcos (5340)
19-Jan-21
$2,500
$2,500
$5,000
Del Mar (5340)
20-Feb-21
$2,500
$2,500
$5,000
Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) (5340)
25-Feb-21
$3,000
$2,400
$5,400
Rancho Santa Fe (5340)
25-Feb-21
$2,500
$2,500
$5,000
Amount Requested from The Rotary Foundation
-
$19,520
$19,520
Total
$69,420
DDF contributions in grey are pending approval of the corresponding district committee.
Note: as of July 1, 2015 there is a 5% additional support fee for cash contributions. This fee does not appear in the financials above because it does not apply if the funds are sent directly to the project account (without going through TRF, and therefore without Paul Harris credit). Clubs sending their cash contribution to TRF must be aware they will have to send an additional 5%.
System Entry: Pledge of $10,000 with $10,000 DDF by Amelie Catheline of the Rotary Club of Solana Beach, District 5340.
12-Nov-20
by Amelie Catheline
System Entry: Pledge of $2,000 DDF by Daniel Valdivieso of the Rotary Club of Loja Los Zarzas, District 4400.
15-Dec-20
by Amelie Catheline
System Entry: Pledge of $2,500 with $2,500 DDF by Mike Dunlap of the Rotary Club of Escondido Sunrise, District 5340.
22-Dec-20
by Amelie Catheline
System Entry: Pledge of $2,500 with $2,500 DDF by Sherry Yardley of the Rotary Club of Encinitas, District 5340.
19-Jan-21
by Amelie Catheline
System Entry: Pledge of $2,500 with $2,500 DDF by Luene Corwin of the Rotary Club of San Marcos, District 5340.
20-Feb-21
by Amelie Catheline
The Rotary Club of Del Mar has pledged $2,500 + $2,500 in DDF. Please note that the application will require to specify that Del Mar R/C funds will be processed through the Matching Grants Website Donor Advised Funds DAF# 298. See the Documents section for additional details.
20-Feb-21
by Patti Kurtz
System Entry: Pledge of $2,500 with $2,500 DDF by Patti Kurtz of the Rotary Club of Del Mar, District 5340.
25-Feb-21
by Amelie Catheline
System Entry: Pledge of $2,500 with $2,500 DDF by Robin Chappelow of the Rotary Club of Rancho Santa Fe, District 5340.
25-Feb-21
by Amelie Catheline
System Entry: Project is now "Fully Pledged".
16-Jun-21
by Amelie Catheline
System Entry: Application Sent to The Rotary Foundation through Member Access.
4-Oct-21
by Amelie Catheline
The project is under review and we are answering the first round of questions.
29-Apr-22
by Amelie Catheline
System Entry: Application approved by The Rotary Foundation.
3-May-22
by Philippe Lamoise
$2,500 contribution from Del Mar Rotary Club transferred to TRF through the Matching Grants Website DAF.
7-Jul-22
by Amelie Catheline
System Entry: Payment has been issued by The Rotary Foundation.
4-Feb-23
by Amelie Catheline
This project is on going. The engineer work is completed in two communities out of five, as of January 20th, 2023. The conservation aspect is also in progress. The maintenance, administrative and hygiene trainings will start once the engineer work is completed. I have uploaded a presentation I gave to my club, Solana Beach Eco R/C. on January 3rd, 2023.
16-Aug-23
by Amelie Catheline
A progress report has been submitted in June 2023 through Grant Central.
18-Apr-24
by Amelie Catheline
The project has been completed on the ground. We are gathering all the information and document to submit the final report.
2-Nov-24
by Amelie Catheline
progress report (September 2024) uploaded + presentation done in April 2024 uploaded
22-Jan-25
by Amelie Catheline
Report submitted in September 2024 has been accepted by TRF grant manager
