Ferrocement Water Tank
TERRA is working with the community of Ayo Ayo to construct a water storage tank and distribution network to 25 families
Bolivian communities in impoverished areas are faced with a perpetual
problem, not enough financing to fund projects needed to increase their
economic welfare. Communities, often fight amongst themselves for
limited government funding and as a result might receive a quarter of
the necessary funds every 2-5 years. As a result, communities will
often have to choose which project is most vital and piecemeal the
project together over the span of 3-10 years. This is the case for Ayo
Ayo a small community located between La Paz and Oruro in the Bolivian
Altiplano. Three years ago Ayo Ayo received a three thousand dollars
from the local municipality to drill a water well. While a productive
aquifer was encountered Ayo Ayo lacked the funds to install a pump and
build a distribution system. This year the community received funds to
install a electric pump but lack the funds to build a water holding
tank and distribution system. Without outside aid they will likely have
to wait three more years to get the chance to receive more funding from
the municipality
Ayo Ayo contacted TERRA and informed us of their situation and the
project (including a holding tank and a main line distribution network)
was put out to bid to local Bolivian contractors. A common theme when
dealing with international organizations is that the contractors
proposed bid was prohibitively high ($8,000). This is largely due to
the fact that current water storage tanks in Bolivia are both out of
date and too expensive. New technologies in cement construction and
water tank design called ferrocement tanks incoporate wire mesh with
cement both increasing strength and lowering costs (by reducing
materials). Using ferrocement tanks, costs can be reduced from 3,000 to
1,000.
TERRA intends to introduce ferrocement tanks to the Altiplano, both
introducing a new technology and providing a high quality water storage
tank for the Community of Ayo Ayo.
The community of Ayo Ayo is located
in the Bolvian Altiplano halfway between the capital of La Paz and the
city of Oruro. Here 25 families live by farming unfertile soil in a
cold harsh climate and herding sheep and llamas. This region is exists
in extreme poverty. Houses are adobe with dirt floors and no bathrooms
or potable water are currently present. A primary school with 30
students relies on a shallow, filthy well for drinking water.
- Project Brief
- Title:
- Project Ayo Ayo: Water Tank and distribution System
- Status:
- Not Funded - Ayo Ayo has raised 1,000$ to contribute to the project.
- Location:
- Community of Ayo Ayo, Municipality of Ayo Ayo, Department of La Paz, Bolivia
- Participants:
- TERRA, the Municipality of Ayo Ayo, and the Community of Ayo Ayo
- Cost:
- $5000.00 USD
- Additional Information
- Project Slide Show
- Current Projects
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