Social

Safe water systems for El Cascajal

With around 20 volunteer students, the association Technik ohne Grenzen e.V. established a secure drinking water supply in the Ecuadorian village of El Cascajal.

South America

Ecuador

El Cascajal

Funding period: 2020

El Cascajal, a remote rural village community in the Esmeraldas province on Ecuador’s coast, was severely affected by an earthquake in April 2016. The already limited access to fresh water and the insufficient infrastructure were particularly devastated. The aim of the project in Ecuador, supported by the Wilo-Foundation, was to develop a sustainable water system to provide the population of El Cascajal with a long-term, self-sufficient supply of fresh water.

Together with the residents of the village El Cascajal, initial plans for expanding the existing water sources were developed back in 2019. Photo: Technik ohne Grenzen e.V., Credits: Paul Grünefeld, Luis Cisneros

The Aachen regional group of the association "Engineers Without Borders" (German: Technik ohne Grenzen e.V.) worked together with the residents of El Cascajal to find long-term and secure solutions for the village’s drinking water supply. 20 active student volunteers spent two years addressing the precarious drinking water situation in Ecuador’s coastal region following the April 2016 earthquake. After conducting initial analyses and testing samples from nearby sources, they worked together with local residents to develop concepts and calculations for constructing a collection basin supplied by a freshwater well near the village.

El Cascajal is a rural village community located in a remote area of the Esmeraldas province on the coast of Ecuador. Photo: Technik ohne Grenzen e.V., Credits: Paul Grünefeld, Luis Cisneros

After a planning phase, the water supply was converted to a pipeline system with an integrated water treatment facility. A central distribution system now enables the people in El Cascajal to easily access fresh water. To ensure sustainable maintenance, workshops and technical training programs were created for the villagers. In addition, the residents received further education on health and hygiene topics related to water.

Photo Header: Technik ohne Grenzen e.V., Credits: Paul Grünefeld, Luis Cisneros

Our funding partner

The non-profit association Technik ohne Grenzen e.V., Höchstadt an der Aisch (Germany), is committed to improving living conditions in developing countries — in a practical, sustainable, and locally adapted way. The association pursues three core approaches: effective development cooperation using available resources, education for self-help, and sustainable structures. True to the motto “As technical as necessary, as simple as possible,” technology enthusiasts — from students to professionals — apply their expertise in a targeted manner to provide global support for self-help.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forms the global framework for action for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. Our funding commitment also supports these sustainability goals. With this project, we are making a contribution to achieving the following SDGs:

What are the SDGs`?