Socorro Biosand Filter Project (2008 – 2010)

About the Community

Socorro is a community in the Suchitepéquez Department of Guatemala. With a total population of 450 people, Socorro’s main source of water is the Chicoy River or a small well found in each household of the village. Because they were limited to these sources, local residents often struggled with gastrointestinal disease due to the poor drinking water quality, resulting in about 100 visits per month to health clinics.

Project Overview & Results

Our chapter began partnership with the Socorro, Suchitepéquez community in 2008 with the aim of improving the quality and sanitation of drinking water and educating community members on safe drinking water practices to prevent health issues and disease from water contamination.

This goal was achieved through the installation of 385 biosand water filters across seven communities in the Suchitepéquez region of Guatemala.

The project team first worked to design and test a biosand filter that would meet the community’s needs. After designing inexpensive and effective biosand filters, our chapter implemented 385 filters in a total of 183 households in 7 communities, directly impacting the lives of 450 locals. The impact was clearly seen through the 95% decrease in the number of patients with stomach problems visiting the local clinic. Once filters were constructed, we were responsible for monitoring the use and maintenance of filters, and did so by checking for cracks, leaks, exposure of chicken wire, spout size, and the presence of the diffuser plate and lid.

Furthermore, some community members were initially skeptical of the filters due to past negative experiences with defunct filters. Therefore, the project team worked to educate the community about how the filters worked and equip them with the knowledge of how to maintain them properly, so as to ensure the reliability and long-term sustainability of the project. Additionally, the local NGO set up clinics in communities to encourage the use of filters.

By the closeout of the project in 2010, EWB had installed 385 biofilters in 7 communities, which successfully provided clean water and better health to many households.

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