Zapote
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The UW-Madison Chapter of Engineers Without Borders is currently designing a spring-fed, gravity-powered water system in Zapote, Guatemala. Zapote is a rural community located in the municipality of Joyabaj and home to over 100 families. As of today, the community lacks a clean, reliable source of water. Parents live with fear that they will not be able to provide their families with one of life’s basic necessities, so when water becomes available, they store it in large drums for several days to weeks at a time. The storage of water gives rise to bacterial colonization, causing and spreading sickness throughout families and the community. 
 
But, there is hope.
 
The community, well aware of the water crisis they face, purchased natural springs. These springs lie eight kilometers from Zapote. The community’s leaders desire more for their people, so they solicited the help of our students to design and implement a system that they can count on to bring clean water for many years to come.
 
After an initial community assessment in 2016, our team of engineering students determined the project is feasible and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the community. This agreement lays out the terms of our partnership, solidifying the relationship we have been building with these families for several years.
 
This project is our team’s biggest yet; in fact, it’s the biggest student-led project in EWB-USA’s history. The success of this project lies in UW Madison students’ hands. We will be designing a 12-kilometer pipeline with drastic elevation changes, 2 distribution tanks, numerous suspended crossings, 3 spring boxes, and a chlorination system.
 
You can follow our journey on our website and through social media using and searching for the hashtag #EWBeTheChange!
Contact:
guatemala.ewbuw@gmail.com
#EWBeTheChange