The People's Consultants

The corporation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific research purposes and in furtherance thereof shall have the power to do the following:
1. To construct technically adequate water systems in impoverished communities in the Central American Country of Guatemala and other Latin American Countries, taking into consideration the cultural, sociological and economic characteristics of each community.
2. To train Latin Americans in the design and construction of rural water systems.
3. To outline and refine the methodology for designing and construction rural water systems in order to develop a model which can effectively be used world-wide.
4. To initiate a comprehensive evaluation of the water systems which this corporation constructs so that the design and construction of future water systems will be continually improved.
5. To educate the communities in which the water systems are constructed so that they will be able to independently operate and maintain the new water facility.

1. We will continue to offer courses at Furman University and support the annual Water Walk
2. We will continue to canvass local Rotary Clubs in California, Minnesota, South Carolina and Iowa
3. We will travel to Guatemala to meet with the board of Agua del Pueblo.

Bruce Clemens is a professional environmental and civil engineer with a masters in economic development and a PhD in Strategies and the Natural Environment.
Andy Karp has worked on water supply around the world for more than 40 years. He has a masters in sanitary engineering.

Since 1972 we have completed more than 800 water supply and sanitation projects serving more than 500,000.
Our most recent project:
The Rotary Clubs of Calgary Heritage Park, and Calgary (both in District D5360), the eClub of Canada One (District 5370) and the eClub of Lake Atitlan (RECLA), Guatemala; Agua del Pueblo & The People’s Consultants have recently embarked on our latest dream: to provide potable water AND sanitation to up to four more villages in the watershed of Lake Atitlan.
Lake Atitlan is recognized as one of the most beautiful yet most critically endangered lakes in the world. The Global Nature Fund “awarded” Lake Atitlan, the most threatened in the world. The lake is important in many ways, providing most of the drinking water for 400,000 Mayan Indians. Culturally, Mayans believe they came from Lake Atitlan. In 2013, scientists identified extensive blooms of toxic blue-green algae in the Lake. The contamination is fueled by the 400,000 Mayans who live in the watershed. The vast majority of these 400,000 rely on the Lake for drinking water. The human waste from the residents of the watershed is being dumped into the water they are drinking. The goal of our dream is to provide waste treatment for every one of the 400,000 Mayans living in the watershed. The deep lake – up to 1000 ft. - can dilute a significant amount of runoff, but we are reaching a tipping point.

We have completed three projects that will directly impact the Lake. The water supply project in Sanik-Ya and Chitulul, and the SunSpring Installations at the clinic and school in San Lucas Toliman. What we call Phase I is almost 75% done water and sanitation in Nuevo Progreso and Chocol, Santa Lucia Utatlan. We are about 50% done with the fundraising for this $200,000 global grant. Todd Thompson is taking the lead in both phase 1 and 2. Mr. Bill Skinner and Peter DeNooy of Canadian Rotary CLubs have led the charge for Phase 3. This next step in this process is a $200,000 global grant to fund at least two villages in Santa Lucia Utatlan and one in Sololá: Los Planes, Pamezebal and Peña Blanca. We have already begun the first phase: to provide water and sanitation to two villages in Santa Lucia Utatlan. Rotary clubs, led by Northfield MN, are taking the challenge for Phase II. Rotary clubs in Red Wing MN; and Petaluma CA already committed $100,000 of the $200,000.
One final but fundamental note. We view water and sanitation as a noble but insufficient final goal. Research has shown that communities that follow participatory methodologies benefit in far more than just sanitation and drinking water. Communities will build skills to facilitate further development. Hundreds of communities with which we have worked, continue to build schools, roads, electrification. Please consider participating.