Erquis Sud Upcoming Events

Erquis Sud, Boliva

23 March 2010
Last Updated on 31 October 2011
Dustin Bales
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Background Information 

Bolivia is one of only two landlocked countries in South America. It lies in the heart of the Andes and is bordered by the countries of Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile. It is also the second poorest country in the west-ern hemisphere. The life expectancy is only 65 years old and 7 percent of children die before their first birthday. It is a very diverse country in culture and climate. In the south and east, it is a tropical environment while in the north and west, it is an alpine desert called the Altiplano.

During the Bolivian dry season, the residents of Erquis Sud have no nearby water sources and must sacrifice some of what little money they have to get the water they need to survive. During the rainy season, the nearby river is infested with bacteria from animal waste and chemicals from farmers’ pesticides that cause health problems for community members.

Erquis Sud, Boliva

ErquisSud11p2

Plans for Summer 2012 and Beyond

In the upcoming year, the Erquis Sud team is planning to design a flood prevention system. The team is also working on plans for drilling a well, and a water distribution system to deliver potable water to the community


 

Summer 2011 Implementation Trip

 

In July 2011, EWB-Missouri S&T returned to Erquis Sud, Bolivia to implement a gabion system. The gabions purpose is to prevent erosion of the river bank alongside the community. The erosion was wearing away the bank where the water storage tank was built in May of 2009. In addition, the team surveyed the land in and around the community to make topographic maps for future projects. The day prior to the team’s arrival, the community installed electrical meters donated by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The installation of electricity will power the planned well and will improve the quality of life for the community.

 

ErquisSud11p1
Plans for Summer 2010 and Beyond

EWB – Missouri S&T has already begun planning the next phases of the project, which will include providing electricity to a water pump, a sewage system, and a more in-depth water distribution system. Future projects may also include flood control for the rainy season to meet their concerns of mold, leaky roofs, and cracking foundations. The chapter’s relationship with this community has only just begun, and the expectation is that the benefits for both groups will be significant, wide-spread, and long-lasting.

The Erquis Sud team traveled in July 2010 to implement a water distribution system to their community in southern Bolivia. The year ahead involves work in erosion prevention, waste water collection & treatment, and surface water control. Currently a deep water well is being drilled and electric lines are being installed in the community.

 Here is a link to a video taken by a Bolivian TV network (it is in spanish though).

High Fives!

Summer 2009 Implementation Trip

EWB-Missouri S&T returned to southern Bolivia in May 2009 with 12 students and 1 faculty member to build a 5,000 gallon ferrocement for po-table water storage. In addition, EWB-Missouri S&T students met with the local electric company so that the water could potentially be pumped auto-matically up to the tank from the well that plans be drilled. Finally, the team educated the community on practices that could improve their health, as well as assessed future needs for electricity and wastewater treatment.

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