Technology Without Borders

Water for Qhosmi, Bolivia

About the Project

In the community of Qhosmi, located in the Bolivian Andes near San Pedro de Buena Vista, is home to 26 families with around 255 people. These families mainly rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods, but the lack of access to clean water presents a significant daily challenge. Currently, the residents use water from an untreated river, which often leads to health problems such as diarrhea—particularly affecting children. Together with our partner organization, World Vision Bolivia, which has extensive experience in the region and similar projects, we aim to sustainably improve living conditions and establish a secure water supply system. In January 2025, two members of our Aachen regional group traveled to Bolivia to advance the project planning. On-site, we collaborated with World Vision Bolivia to examine three natural springs near the village. These were tested for flow rate and water quality and proved to be well-suited to reliably supply the community. Based on these results and the geographical conditions, we developed a technical design: the system includes spring catchments, feeder pipelines, a central storage tank with a chlorination chamber, and distribution pipelines to each household. Every family will have a water connection with an outdoor sink, providing them with more than the 30 liters of water per person per day recommended in Bolivia. A central aspect of our project is close collaboration with the community. Together, we established a water committee responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, and management of the system. In workshops, we discussed the local conditions, habits, and needs of the residents to gain a deeper understanding of their daily lives and define shared project goals. The active involvement of the community—whether through labor, provision of information or material transportation—is a crucial factor for the project’s success and sustainability, which has been formalized in a written agreement. Thanks to the support of our partners and donors, construction work is expected to begin in March 2025. Additionally, we are planning accompanying educational workshops to raise awareness about hygiene and sustainable water use in the community. Following the project, the community will be empowered to independently manage and maintain the water system in the long term. Together, we can achieve a healthier and more sustainable future for the residents of Qhosmi.