Celia’s family had a water connection installed in their house, eliminating the need to walk for water and the health issues associated with using contaminated water. In the district of Villa Rivero, where Celia’s family lives, every community has been reached with reliable water service – bringing the district one step closer to Everyone.

Forever

One of the reasons behind the success of drinking water services in Villa Rivero is the district’s municipal water and sanitation office – the Municipal Office of Basic Sanitation (DMSB). The DMSB oversees and supports the water committees that manage community water systems like the one in Celia’s town. Developing and supporting offices like the DMSB is critical to ensuring water services are sustainable for generations to come.

Carlos Cordova and Henry Montenegro work with Villa Rivero’s DMSB, and they’re working to maintain coverage for every community – and eventually every single household.

Carlos and Henry say the work has been difficult, largely because there aren’t sufficient government funds to construct all the necessary water systems. To make up for this, communities have to mobilize around construction – helping dig ditches and gathering local materials for construction such as gravel and sand.

Once systems are built, a pay-for-use culture around water usage has been critical for keeping systems running. Because users pay appropriate tariffs, when pumps and parts break down, water committees have funds available to fix them and eventually to replace them. The time and resources required of communities has led to higher levels of ownership over their water systems, and the DMSB provides the necessary support to make sure these systems will be able to serve Everyone Forever.

Carlos and Henry said before water systems were completed, women, children, and elderly community members had to walk a kilometer or more to find safe drinking water. Now, that time can be devoted to families, to education, and to moving forward in their lives. “Their smiles are from ear to ear,” Carlos and Henry say.