Panimicac Water Project

Start Date: February, 2010
Main Contact: Phuc Vu, Lead Engineer
Project Manager : Mateo Paneitz, E.D.
Current Status: Accepted by Chapter

• Panimicac Preliminary Report, 2008

Introduction

We arrived in Panimacac Tuesday October 21, 2008 in the late afternoon to warm greetings and smiles. The community leaders were instantly gracious for our help and interest in their community. We stayed at the local school in a classroom with a secure door and lock. Due to the distance between Parque Chimiya and Panimacac, it was necessary for us to stay the night. The school yard was fenced and locked each day and each night, so there was never any worry about our belongings going missing. We felt safe and the community leaders reassured us that we would not have any problems.

Each night the men and boys from the community all met at the school's basketball court, which was also used for a soccer field. They played soccer all evening until about 8 pm. We spent our evenings watching soccer, writing in our journals, and reflecting on each day. The kids were very curious and interested in our presence.

Every morning, afternoon, and evening, different women from the community brought us delicious hot meals. We ate fried chicken, rice, beans, soup, coffee and endless tortillas. We were also treated to a daily morning snack that consisted of chips and coke. The community was very generous and welcoming the entire time we were there.

We spent two and a half full days surveying every family in Panimacac. We had a two page survey and spent time explaining our project to each family. While surveying each family, we also took photos of everyone's house, kitchen, bathroom, and chorro (faucet). The photos played an important role in understanding the health conditions of each family and the community as a whole. We also informed each family about the importance of our trash bottle project in Comalapa. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that nearly 50% of the families were already using trash bottles to collect their plastic garbage. Educating each family about ways to purify their water was another task necessary during our visit.

Health

During our time with each family, we observed risk factors that were relevant to one's health. We noticed many children with runny noses. Many families stated that they regularly had headaches, fevers, aches, pains, and colds. Other families had diabetes and flu like symptoms. We were surprised to learn that 69% of the families in Panimacac had an open fire in their kitchen with no ventilation.

One of the most noticeable health conditions we observed was the significant amount of people missing teeth. Some people had gold teeth, while others only had a few teeth, usually misaligned and discolored. The liquid consumed by the community mostly consisted of coffee (one part coffee, ten parts sugar), coke, and other types of soda.

Water Frequency and Quality

The elevation and season played a huge role in the availability and frequency of water. The families living in the higher elevations usually only had water for a few hours each morning. However, the families living in the lower elevations, had water much more frequently throughout the day. Anecdotal information regarding the difference in water frequency depended on the season. During the summer months, many families had significantly less water available each week.

The current distribution tank for Panimacac is 40 years old and relatively small in size; the water is typically cloudy and there is no form of filtration. The water system consisted mostly of 1/2 inch diameter PVC pipe.

Education

There were four members in the community that had a university level education. One man worked in the capital as an accountant, another man was a teacher in Panimacac. Two women, whom were sisters, lived together and both were teachers as well. One taught in Panimacac and the other in Comalapa. Three of the four people with the university level education were not married. 92% of the community had a 6th grade education or less.

Conclusion

We learned immense amounts of information in regards to the culture of Panimacac and the differences in perspectives of education, health and general living conditions. The people of Panimacac were humble and content with their lives. They worked hard each day and had strong community bonds. Many community members were also part of the same family, and their kids freely roamed from house to house. More families were waiting to move to Panimacac, but due to the harsh water conditions it is not possible at this time.

We GPS marked 11 new plots of land that the community wants to use for new houses. . Each plot needs a chorro in order for a family to move to Panimacac. The chorro is the main aspect that is hindering other families from moving in. We also created 5 sectors determined by the location of the separation of water lines

Overall, we had a wonderful experience in Panimacac and felt very welcome in the community. We built relationships with the community leaders and brought hope to each family. Our experience enhanced our understanding of the water conditions and allowed us to gather vast amounts of information that will be useful for future development.