SHI: Safe Drinking Water for 20,000 Rural Families

Over the years, Los Angeles CAPS President Geovany and Treasurer Arlen have worked very hard to administer and ensure the sustainability of the Los Angeles water system in their area.

Self-Help partnered with the community to install a CTI-8 manual chlorinator in the water storage basin and its associated plastic water distribution tanks. Self-Help also provided technical advice and training to the community’s Water and Sanitation Committee (CAPS) so they could independently and sustainably maintain the water system.

“Self-Help taught us how to calculate water rates and how to administer our water system,” Geovany said. “We received training and explanations on how to apply what we learned, and we were supplied with manuals on the chlorinating system so that we could study and strengthen our knowledge.”

He went on to explain that there was a community assembly regarding the cost per cubic meter of water, and some community members proposed a price of 3 cordobas (.08 US$). “We were able to apply what we learned from the training in the discussion, and we proposed  7 cordobas (.20 US$)  per cubic meter of water instead ---because we knew that all maintenance and operation costs of the water system had to be included.

“The training sessions have helped us to improve the administration of the CAPS and to assess a water rate that is both affordable for our community members and allows us to cover expenses. This ensures the maintenance and sustainability of the water system that we have,” Arlen added.

Each month, Los Angeles spends between 735 -1,000 cordobas  ($20.55 - $27.96 US) in order to purchase seven to ten chlorine tablets.

Arlen said, “We charge for water services on the first day of each month and charge again after eight days. Anyone who doesn’t pay after the second charge falls into default and is given up to two months to pay the balance. If, at this time, the user doesn’t pay, water service is cut off. At present we have a 15% payment delinquency.”

Geovany shared, “We have an average monthly income of  $2,000 cordobas ($55.91 US) and a monthly disposable fund of $5,000 cordobas ( $139.78 US) after all of the expenses for maintaining the aqueduct. Since assuming our leadership roles, our CAPS has accumulated $155,488 cordobas ($4,346.88 US), which is in the bank. We have been able to save that amount thanks to the rate we charge for water, which we learned from all of the training and support Self-Help has provided.”