LA FLOR, LOS COYOTES, NICARAGUA
funded AUGUST 18, 2021
The current water situation is difficult. The women and girls must get up early in the morning to walk over 2 km one way to gather water. The water they collect tastes like copper and has a yellow color. There is much sickness in the community from it. Many stomach aliments such as bloating bellies due to parasites, vomiting, and diarrhea, and during the summer, the hand-dug wells dry up.
People are desperate for water, so they try to dig deeper wells and the walls often collapse, or they go so deep they lose oxygen and die at those depths. Kids are at risk not only physically, but they are missing out on going to school and their education. Mothers spend hours just collecting water to get through each day, there is not time to care for their children as they should, grow a garden or find ways to earn an income. Everyone livea their lives in survival mode, making life very difficult. Stress and depression are always high due to this type of lifestyle.
A house in this rural community.
This well dries up in the summer.
Access to safe water and health education would dramatically change this community. Life would no longer be just surviving; it would be a whole new way of life. Stopping the time poverty is huge let alone the health benefits that come from safe water close to their homes. The number of school hours the girls will be able to attend will jump significantly. Water borne illnesses will drop and the death rate & slow growth rate due to poor health of children under 5 will diminish. Mothers will have time to care for their own children allowing their older kids the opportunity to just be kids instead of caretakers while mothers go and collect water. Hope will be brought to a desperate community!
COMPLETED DECEMBER 9, 2021
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
For the 128 residents of La Flor, Los Coyotes, water access was a daily cause of suffering and stress. They relied upon hand-dug wells for all of their needs, but all of these sources were unreliable. The water levels of both the wells and the river dwindled seasonally. The task of collecting water from these sources was laborious and often dangerous. The residents spent much of their time and energy finding and collecting water for their families.
Aside from the water scarcity, the residents also suffered from water-related illnesses. The water from the hand-dug wells was rife with bacteria and chemicals washed from nearby fields. Therefore, it was unsafe to consume or come in
contact with. Water-related illnesses were commonplace, and many also suffered from long-term kidney issues caused by the chemicals in the water. The water crisis was sapping away the residents’ strength, and they knew they needed help.
Community members rely on hand-dug wells for drinking water.
The community is rural.
A staff member works at drilling a borehole.
A woman pumps water from the new well for the first time!
Jose tells his story.
CONSTRUCTION
A landowner in the community named Jose Angel Sanchez was familiar with Living Water International’s work drilling safe water wells. He knew that a well project would transform his community and decided to request their help. The Living Water Nicaragua staff had compassion on the community’s plight and agreed to come visit. They assessed the situation and decided the residents were ready to sustain a safe water well
responsibly. They were glad to inform the community members that a project could begin soon because of your generous gift, Ingomar Living
Waters.
The staff soon returned to begin the project. The team drilled until they reached a safe water aquifer at 37 meters deep. They flushed out the borehole to clear it of sedimentary rock debris. Once the team cased the borehole with PVC, they formed a gravel pack and sanitary seal and mounted a hand pump. The well was complete!
COMMUNITY DETAILS
| TOTAL WATER USERS | 128 |
| MAIN WATER COLLECTORS | entire community |
| LOCATION | rural community |
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
| ALTITUDE | 106 m |
| PUMP TYPE | hand pump |
| PROJECT TYPE | new simple system |
| DEPTH OF WELL | 37 m |
WATER QUALITY TESTS
| PH | 8 |
| TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS | 245 ppm |
| HARDNESS | 250 ppm |
| COLIFORM BACTERIA | absent |
The water caused stomach ailments. In the summer, the wells dried up and we had to go two kilometers to fetch water. When we drank it, it tasted like copper and turned yellow. Once, when we started digging a well, it collapsed and almost completely buried me. I was in the hospital for several weeks. We feel very happy and will enjoy. The new safe water well. We will no longer draw water with ropes and
buckets, and we are really thankful for that.”
SUSTAINABILITY
Living Water Nicaragua helped the community prepare for a future of sustained safe water access and improved health. They guided the residents in forming a water committee, which will oversee the proper use of the well. The water committee will also remain in contact with Living Water Nicaragua about the functionality of the pump and collect a small monthly fee per household to cover the cost of potential future repairs. Now that the community members were invited into the process of stewarding their safe water well, they will find healing in the hope of improved standards of living that they help bring about.
The water committee signs documents, taking responsibility for maintaining the well.
SANITATION AND HYGIENE
The Living Water Nicaragua staff also led sanitation and hygiene promotional activities in the community. A total of 75 people benefited from the interactive and fun lessons. The participants benefited from the hands-on approach to the topics and the visual aids used in the lessons. They learned about how they can make improvements in their personal
hygiene. The participants learned how correct handwashing is the best way to safeguard themselves against germ spread and disease transmission. They also learned about dental hygiene.
In a more prescriptive lesson, the staff explained how to remedy the vicious cycle of dehydration and diarrhea by administering a solution of safe water, salt, and sugar. However, the participants learned that they should see a reduced need for this oral rehydration solution as they begin to drink plenty of safe water. The staff also taught the community members how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Living Water staff distributed hygiene kits with materials to help prevent the spread of
COVID-19.
A resident practices making an oral rehydration solution.
Iglesia Nueva Jerusalen church
IN JESUS’ NAME
Living Water also gathered with Iglesia Nueva Jerusalen for an evangelism session. There were 31 residents present at the vent where they worshiped along with Living Water staff. The church leaders presented a sermon. The Living Water staff also led the community members in a well dedication ceremony and distributed 16 Bibles for the community members to keep as gifts. They sang worship songs and prayed that their safe water well would continue to nourish the community.
YOUR IMPACT
Ingomar Living Waters, thank you for ending the water crisis for the La Flor, Los Coyotes. The compassion you showed this community testifies of God’s love for the residents. Jesus said in Matthew 10:42 (NIV), “… If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Because you selflessly gave the gift of safe water, the La Flor, Los Coyotes community can experience hope and healing. They know now that water access will not harm them and that they can dedicate more hours of the day to pursuits that benefit their development. By giving the gift of safe water, you have given the gift of time, restored vitality, and hope for the future.
Thank you for giving water, for life, in Jesus’ name!
Community members dedicate the new well to their Lord.
