Clean Water in Roche Delmas
The wonderful people of Roche Delmas now have sustainable access to clean water and are managing their own well!
This community includes about 30 households and 150 people in the South in the Commune of Cavaillion. They have been waiting patiently for their community well to be completed. Because of the recent unrest in the country, roads have been closed, making it difficult for goods to be transported. They waited several months for a single part that was stuck in the Dominican Republic. Prior to this new well, community members got their water from a spring called Nan Plonjon which takes 2 hours to get to by foot. Now they have clean water within 500 meters of their homes!
Access to clean water and improved hygiene practices have led to significant health improvements in the communities served by Haiti Outreach. The reduction in waterborne diseases has resulted in fewer illnesses and lower healthcare costs, which has had a positive impact on the overall health and productivity of these communities.
The availability of clean water has economic benefits as well. It reduces the time and effort needed to collect water, allowing community members, especially women and children, to engage in more productive activities such as education and income-generating work. This has helped improve the economic conditions of many households.
Water was found at the drilling site in Roche Delmas right away, the well was successfully drilled at 300 feet, and after waiting for the pump to be installed, the cement well house was built, and an inauguration celebration took place last week!
Upfront investment funds for the well came from Minnetonka Middle School 6th graders, who raised the money through their annual water walk in Minnesota. To ensure sustainability of the well, the community goes through a 3-6 month coaching process with Haiti Outreach Staff. The water committee (consisting of 50% women) volunteers about 1200 hours to the process. The plot of land where the well sits is donated to the community.
The key to the success of sustainability for decades to come is the pay-for-service model. The water committee collects about 80 cents per household per month to ensure repairs or possible contamination are addressed quickly by the community themselves and not outside agencies. Haiti Outreach guarantees the work up to one year until the community’s bank account is at a higher level. We are always available for questions in the future if a community needs support. Thank you to everyone who who worked so hard to made this possible!
