Jankusaya
Well Drilling, Wind Turbine, and Water
Holding Structure
Project Summary
Jankusaya is an Aymara Indian pueblo in the department of La Paz. It is remote and the harsh environmental conditions of the Altiplano demand efficient use of the natural resources. Jankusaya needs to improve water management and soil fertility in order to increase the inhabitants standards of living.
Currently,
Currently, Jankusaya has several shallow wells that provide drinking
water for the surrounding families. However, the wells are shallow,
have low yields in the dry season, and the water is not collected in
storage tanks. Furthermore, a lack of vegetation coupled with constant
winds causes accelerated erosion, especially on tilled areas. Subtle
improvements in the access and yield of water and erosion control will
protect the community against drought, provide water for irrigation,
and improve agricultural production.
In 2005, a community leader of Jankusaya approached TERRA seeking collaboration to help engineer and func a deep, high production water well system and storage tank. The purpose of this well is to serve as a clean source of drinking water for the community, to act an emergency water storage tank, and to provide irrigation water for a local tree nursery whose trees will be live wind barriers that will reduce soil erosion and increase soil fertility.
Project Background
The
project is an extension of a Peace Corps project. It is developed by
former volunteer Mike Stephenson and Don Antonio Ayala Apulcac, a
member of the community of Jankusaya. While in the Peace Corps, Mike
worked in natural resource management. In the nearby town Huari, Mike
collaborated with Don Antonio and a German NGO in the development of a
tree nursery targeted to increase local knowledge and improve
agricultural productivity. Since 2002, the project was been a success.
It has received local community and governmental support.
Using this project as a basis, Mike Stephenson received a donation to develop a similar tree nursery in the more rural, isolated community Jankusaya. Similar to Huari, Jankusaya's tree nursery has received local support and is operational.
Jankusaya is, however, different from Huari. The water sources available to Jankusaya are more ephemeral. To increase tree productivity and to be a reliable source of drinking water, Mike and Antonia included a water well in the project proposal. The well and the pump system are the final, uncompleted, aspects of the project.
A deep well will be drilled that taps into a known aquifer. The well will improve the tree nursery's quantity and quality. The well will also be a year-round source of drinking water that will protect the community from periods of extended drought.
Wells are uncommon in the area despite ideal conditions. Most communities surrounding Jankusaya obtain drinking and irrigation water from streams, which are contaminated, or from artesian springs, which run dry during droughts. However, the area is proximal to the glaciated Sajama Mountain which likely has created in the valleys vast aquifers containing low sodium concentrations. Since reliable drinking water is not the norm in the area, showcasing this project to surrounding families and communities can have wide-reaching health improvements and create alternative approaches to economic development.
This
project combines community development and micro-enterprise. TERRA will
be the technical consultant and help finance a deep well, a pump, a
windmill to power the pump, and a concrete water storage tank. Don
Antonio will management the tree nursery and well.
- Project Brief
- Title:
- Jankusaya Well Drilling
- Status:
- Funded and Completed
- Location:
- Community of Jankusaya, Provincio Pacahez, Municipality of Corroco, La Paz, Bolivia
- Participants:
- TERRA Resource Development International, Antonio Ayala Apulaca, Save the Children - Bolivia
- Cost:
- $8,000 USD
- Additional Information
- Current Projects
- Success Story