Technology to supply drinking water to families in Majada Blanca is inaugurated

During the week of World Water Day, the "Water for This Area of ​​the Port" project was inaugurated, aiming to improve water availability for over 100 people in this community. Currently, the 50 beneficiary households rely on water trucks as their sole source of supply, and as a result, several families purchase bottled water to supplement their consumption.

In Chile, 47.2% of rural homes, representing 324,216 households, lack formal access to drinking water. Their water supply depends on wells or rivers in 84.7% of cases, but these sources have recently experienced decreased flow or have disappeared altogether. This means these families rely on water trucks, which deliver only 50 liters per person per day—half the amount recommended by the WHO and less than what is consumed in a five-minute shower.
This situation is also prevalent in the Majada Blanca sector of the Coquimbo commune. To address this, and coinciding with World Water Day, the "Water for Majada Blanca" project was launched, aiming to improve water availability for over 100 people in this community. Currently, the 50 beneficiary households depend on water trucks as their sole source of supply, and consequently, many families purchase bottled water to supplement their consumption. 
The project, which today kicks off to change the quality of life for 50 families, includes three initiatives: enabling an existing well through the installation of a Chilean innovation that purifies water using solar panels, as well as a pump and tank to store the water; agricultural workshops so that a portion of the water can serve as a tool for the productive development of the families of Majada Blanca; spaces for participation and coordination to promote association and collaboration among neighbors, for example, through fairs to market their products. 

MORE WATER, MORE GROWTH

In April 2019, ISA InterChile managed the construction of a 60-meter-deep well in Majada Blanca. At 18 meters, water was drawn from the well and reached the aquifer, where a submersible pump was installed at 55 meters and a hygienic seal was applied with cement. The Amulén Foundation initiated the project that made the well potable, as well as extending pipelines from the water treatment plant 300 meters away, to the site of the former community center. Residents now have a water point with several taps for daily use. To further promote local development, two workshops were held in November and December 2020, where residents received training in topics such as olive, fig, and other low-water-requirement fruit cultivation, in conjunction with PRODESAL-PADIS and CEZA (Center for Arid Zone Studies of the University of Chile). Through these courses, residents learned about the proper use of water and received training to generate new income from agricultural and livestock activities, which they can resume once water availability increases. 
This project, coordinated by the Amulén Foundation, was supported by two competitive grant programs: the Chile Compromiso de Todos Fund from the Ministry of Social Development and Family, and the Isa InterChile Community Grant Program, part of the electric company's COVID-19 humanitarian aid plan, which aimed to support the development of various community projects. 
Álvaro González, Institutional Relations Manager at ISA InterChile, points out that “sustainability is a fundamental pillar for us, even more so in these difficult times amidst a pandemic. Despite this scenario, and with even greater reason, the focus has been on strengthening relationships with the community, as well as working to promote the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, because we understand that our task transcends business; it is linked to improving people's quality of life. Furthermore, this collaboration to ensure that the Majada Blanca community has access to drinking water is precisely what we seek: to connect with other stakeholders to achieve the development of these territories.”
This project will utilize Remote Waters' water purification technology, an optimized system for both groundwater and seawater, both based on membrane technology and powered by solar panels. This system can produce approximately 1,000 liters of water per hour to supply between 40 and 100 homes or 160 to 400 people, depending on location, demand, and battery capacity. In the case of Majada Blanca, the purification technology is powered by solar panels. The system operates using membrane purification, specifically ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis. The latter is capable of rejecting particles larger than water, eliminating ions and other unwanted molecules.
“To address these challenges, the Amulén Foundation fosters public-private partnerships to research, develop projects, and leverage global innovations to bring water to those who need it most. This initiative will increase water availability thanks to the Remote Waters plant, which purifies 23,000 liters of water per day. This will not only improve the quality of life for residents of the area but also provide them with the tools to resume agricultural activities that were suspended due to the lack of this essential resource,” stated Antonia Rivera, project manager for the Amulén Foundation.
Juan Adrián Leyton, vice president of the Majada Blanca community, mentioned that “the water trucks were delivering 1,000 liters per family, which is very little water. Now we will have potable water, and we know it's from here. For us, this project is excellent, very good for the community.”