Agua Para Beber

1. Purpose and Objectives: To improve drinking water quality and promote hygiene education in low-income communities still unserved or underserved by water and wastewater infrastructure in the El Paso-Juárez area. The intent is to transfer to local community agencies the Hygiene Education and Appropriate Technologies (HEAT) model, a low-cost, community based program which trains volunteers in water purification techniques and hygiene promotion and introduces appropriate technologies. In 1994, the model was successfully field tested in six communities—training 51 volunteers who worked with a total of 525 families.

2. Background: On both sides of the 2000+ mile U.S./Mexico border, tens of thousands of families are living without drinkable water and sewage facilities in their homes. As a result, many families suffer from gastrointestinal illnesses; and related complications remain one of the primary causes of death for infants and preschoolers in Mexico. In the U.S., the health problems are just as severe. For instance, the rates of Shigella Dysentery and Hepatitis A, a proxy for poor sanitation, are three to four times higher in the border region than in the rest of the United States. The danger of these illnesses spreading to the interiors of both countries is very real and hence commands grave concern. To alleviate these dangers, both governments must invest billions of dollars to develop satisfactory water infrastructure. Until such investments occur, steps can be taken to ensure that impacted populations have access to appropriate techniques that will improve the quality and safety of drinking water.

The Center for Environmental Resource Management at UTEP developed Agua Para Beber, a community-based program for improving water quality and promoting sage hygiene practices in low- income border communities. The program combines a hygiene education and water purification program with the distribution of low-cost, drinking water receptacles and utilizes the services of volunteer health promoters for implementation. The goal of the program is to offer an intermediate solution to help improve the safety of drinking water, and thus, the quality of life for border residents.

3. Funding: $70,000 SCERP 1996 Funds (EPA).

4. Partners: University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); Dirección de Desarollo Comunitario, Sistema Municipal para el Desarollo Integral de la Familia (DIF); El Paso City/County Health and Environmental District; Kellogg Community Partnership Institute for Border Community Health Education; Secretaria de Salud, Jurisdicción Sanitaria II; Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez; University of Houston School of Public Health at El Paso.

5. Description: A: Transfer the technical and educational skills developed in the pilot project to community agencies already serving low-income border communities (colonias) in the El Paso-Juarez area. B: Supervise the implementation of the model by these community agencies; provide materials for the implementation and on-going technical support. C: Develop Mechanisms and procedures to enhance the long-term sustainability of the project. D: Conduct a sample survey of participants in the pilot phase to determine continued levels of utilization and develop remedial techniques, as appropriate.

6. Status: A sample of the participating households from the pilot phase are taking part in the follow-up survey. The project is currently producing a training video to assist in the transfer phase.

7. Results: The results of the pilot phase indicate that Agua Para Beber has had a significant positive impact on the quality of drinking water, and consequently, the quality of life of the participating families.

8. Methodology: The method includes boiling water for ten minutes prior to storage or chlorination with household bleach. Chlorinating drinking water is strongly recommended due to the added benefits of the residual properties of chlorine. Also, five-gallon dispensing containers that meet the specifications of the World Health Organization (WHO) are distributed to participating families. The containers are designed to protect against in-house contamination and have special features for easy use. Some residents were storing their water supply in 55-gallon drums which in many cases may have contained hazardous or toxic chemicals. To avoid the possible ingestion of such chemicals, the program offers FDA-approved polyethylene liners that is resistant to many chemicals and is also impermeable. This liner significantly reduces the risk of consuming water with toxic, chemical contaminants.

9. U.S. Contacts: Amy Liebman, Center for Environmental Resource Management, UTEP (915) 747-5893 Bob Currey, Center for Environmental Resource Management, UTEP (915) 747-6274 Todd Rinck, EPA OAR (202) 260-2178