WATER ENGINEERS FOR THE AMERICAS & AFRICA

WEFTA maintains two programs in Panama. The first and oldest program (dating back to 1998) is run by our in-country Circuit Riders Nicholas Arcia and Marcial & Esteban Mendoza. The other program is a collaborative approach with the Peace Corps/Panama WASH program. Both programs utilize WEFTA volunteers who work hand in hand with community members and the local water committee to develop a potable water project that fits the community’s need. All our projects have at least a 25% community contribution – often upwards of 50% where the community provides labor, material, worker food and material transportation.
WEFTA along with the Peace Corps developed a project process called WaterSTAR (Water System Technical Assistance Report) where WEFTA volunteers, WEFTA circuit riders and Peace Corps Volunteers work with water committee members or village decision-makers to identify water supply issues and develop solutions. Whether it is a new system design or a renovation of an older system the team analyzes the critical components using the WaterSTAR process. The components of the WaterSTAR report are: current community water supply situation, supply and demand survey, water committee status and training, hydraulic analysis/vertical profile, hydraulic modeling, materials list, budget, grant application, land tenure, operation & maintenance plan, and a watershed/sourcewater protection plan.
In Panama, WEFTA commits to post-construction follow-up with beneficiary communities 1 year after construction and every three-years after that. Maintaining a consistent empowering relationship with community members keeps the water flowing and community members happy.
We ask our donors to commit to 5 individual community project per year. Projects range from $4K to $12K.

WEFTA has constructed and improved water supply and wastewater systems for healthcare facilities in Africa and Latin America and currently has multiple projects underway. In collaboration with our partners, Village Health Partnership, Daughters of Charity International Project Services and SAWA, recent water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities projects provide access to safe reliable water and sanitation to over 40,000 people who are served by the healthcare facilities in the communities we work.

In a publication released in June 2020 by Global Water 2020, WEFTA has been recognized as a Trailblazer and Implementer making progress toward water access and security for all people in developing countries.

WEFTA has worked in Honduras since its founding in 2002. WEFTA identifies communities in need of new water system development or repairs and rehabilitation of existing systems. Residents pay ~50% of project cost and provide 100% of non-qualified labor. WEFTA Circuit Riders provide the communities with training for O&M on the system and water board development. The Circuit Riders return to the communities regularly to check in on system management and ensure that the water board is charging adequate monthly tariffs to operate the system sustainably.

WEFTA purchased a water well drilling rig for its implementing partner in Bolivia, Suma Jayma (http://www.sumajayma.com) in 2013. With the rig, the Suma Jayma team drills wells to an average depth of 60 meters to bring water to needy families in the Altiplano region. Our goal is to drill 20 wells per year, each well serves between 100 and 500 people. Included in our program with Suma Jayma is source water protection planning, water committee training, and household hygiene education.
Each well costs approximately US$12,000.