Support for drinking water supply and sanitation
In particular to ensure supply in vulnerable neighbourhoods or rural areas. If necessary, quick impact projects such as repairs, leak detection, provision of drinking water reagents, etc.
The COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe in 2020 and profoundly affected the operations of the Water Fund. COVID-19 highlighted the difficulty that millions of people have in accessing something so basic as being able to wash their hands with soap and water, and hindered the management capacity and sustainability of services, due to the economic impact on families and water workers, especially the most vulnerable operators in remote and resource-poor areas.
Short- and medium-term measures were implemented by the Cooperation Fund for Water and Sanitation, without losing the development perspective and always from a human rights approach.
In the first months, and always within the framework of the objectives set for the programmes and to the extent that they were available, various measures were used to support the continued operation of water and sanitation services.
Beyond the redirection of funds from existing programmes, in terms of new programmes, five new grants totalling €5.6 million were authorised at the end of 2020 in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Dominican Republic and Ecuador, to improve water and sanitation services to provide a barrier against the pandemic and to improve rural communities’ resilience. Likewise, within the framework of the LAIF Regional Delegated Cooperation programme, three new grants were approved for a total amount of approximately 500,000 euros in El Salvador and Ecuador, aimed at alleviating the effects of the health and economic crisis in vulnerable rural communities.
Some of the actions in response to the COVID-19 crisis in the countries:
Haiti
In the Haiti programme, 500,000 US dollars of the budget has been allocated to providing a first response to the pandemic, with the objective of minimising the number of cases in both urban and rural areas, in institutions and in the community, benefiting 517,054 people. Activities have been carried out in each of the four regions of the country: North, South, Central and West, including the following actions:
- Rehabilitation or repair of water networks.
- Water supply (distribution of water by tankers, creation of hand-washing stations, minor repairs to water and sanitation systems, procurement of chlorinators and installation in rural areas, etc.).
- Provision of drinking water reagents.
- Communication/awareness-raising on hygiene and handwashing (dissemination activities with State coordination and key industry partners – Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport, National Federation of Municipalities, etc.).
Coronavirus awareness campaign launched in Haiti by the Water Cooperation Fund and DINEPA (Direction Nationale de l’Eau Potable et du Sanitation), in Creole.
Guatemala
In Guatemala, where the Fund currently runs four programmes, five more having been developed in recent years, a total of 215,000 US dollars have been invested. Actions have benefited more than 25,000 people and have focused on:
- Adequate functioning of drinking water and sanitation systems: mainly addressing the continuity of service (measures in operation) and the quality (chlorination) of supply.
- Promotion of hygiene habits (handwashing) through the media (social networks, radio and television).
Honduras
52,627 US dollars have been invested, benefiting a total of 122,377 people in the areas of Choluteca and Comayagua and in the community of MASURPAZ in La Paz, including measures such as:
- Water supply by tanker trucks due to the drought coinciding with the confinement in Choluteca.
- Financial support to the management team of the Sierra de Montecillos operator.
- Purchase of supplies for the three months of confinement for the drinking water treatment plants of the operators Aguas de Choluteca and Aguas de Sierra de Montecillos and MANSURPAZ.
- Purchase of stock of supplies and materials to anticipate breakdowns at times when there are supply difficulties.
- Purchase of chlorine kits and chlorinators.
El Salvador
Work has been carried to chlorinate and disinfect drinking water and ensure the supply of drinking water to rural areas most in need. An investment of 358,000 US dollars has been made, benefiting 134,000 people.
The following actions have been carried out:
- Support provided to 50 rural systems/operators experiencing drinking water production and distribution failures (faulty electromechanical equipment, faulty phase 2 construction works (enclosing walls, internal plumbing, connection to public utility services), decrease in source production, etc.).
- Support provided to 226 rural water boards supported with the provision of water purification kits, personal protection kits, and small works and repairs.
- Installation of chlorinators and residual chlorine meters in 30 rural systems.
- Provision of water purification kits to 222 rural systems.
- Purchase and distribution of 204 personal protection kits for operating personnel (boots, masks, goggles, hand sanitiser gel, etc.).
Ecuador
An investment of 130,481.29 US dollars was made, benefiting the population of the Portoviejo Canton, which amounts to 280,029 inhabitants.
The following actions have been carried out:
- Hiring of tankers for the delivery of drinking water with a capacity of more than 8m3.
- Procurement of chlorine comparators to check residual chlorine in drinking water systems.
- Support to water operators in the Portoviejo Canton with the purchase of reagents for drinking water treatment and purification and COVID-19 protection equipment.
- Awareness-raising and dissemination of the hygiene and handwashing campaign: preparation of leaflets, brochures, flyers, advertising spots in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Water for dissemination in the media (TV, radio) and digital media via social networks.
Paraguay
To expand the scope of the Small Town Water and Sanitation Systems Construction Project, it was decided to make improvements and repairs to optimise the existing systems in 69 rural communities, rather than to build new infrastructure.
In addition, chlorination booths were installed in another 500 communities and basic water and sanitation systems were improved in 45 hospitals and family health units.
Dominican Republic
The implementation of the emergency plan in the province of San Cristóbal has enabled a security protocol to be implemented and guaranteed the supply of water during the pandemic. This plan integrates the essential work and organisation of staff from the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA).
In order to ensure continuity of service, health protocols for employees were defined and implemented, with biosecurity measures and equipment for the repair of breakdowns, customer service by telephone, dissemination of information bulletins for staff, use of remote communication channels with users and the development of technological methods to allow online payment for the service.
Costa Rica
Since March 2020 contractors carrying out water and sanitation works have had protocols in place to prevent contagion including staff training, creating and monitoring of bubbles (small work groups), the setting up of sanitary cabins and hand-washing areas. Most of the staff hired are members for the community, which has made it possible to support the local economy.
On the other hand, a communication campaign was developed to promote timely payment of the water service, the efficient use of this resource and the implementation of hygiene measures to prevent diseases, which is currently being carried out by the community boards that administer the service.
