Rotarians Visit Water Project They Helped Fund in Ecuador

Alpharetta Rotarians traveled to Ecuador recently to examine the first phase of construction for a water treatment plant in the Manabí Province that received funding through a Rotary International Global Grant.

The Rotary Clubs of Alpharetta and Portoviejo Reales Tamarindos submitted the project to Rotary International for this Rotary year, 2013-2014. The Rotary Clubs of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and South Forsyth partnered in funding the project.

The plant is projected to support 4,400 residents in the communities of Las Gilses and La Boca. The plant is designed with a chemical injection, filtration and active chlorination system. It is capable of storing 25 cubic meters of raw water, with a capacity to produce 20 cubic meters of water hourly and store 50 cubic meters of treated water.

The RC Portoviejo Reales Tamarindos in coordination with the two communities will provide training at the child, adolescent and adult level on the proper handling of water for health and sanitation. The local schools will include safe water and sanitation in their curriculum.

A Water Authority has been established responsible to maintain the facility and bill the residents. The Water Treatment Facility is expected to be completed by June 2014.

Rotarians Attend Project Fair in Ecuador

The Alpharetta Rotarians also attended theDistrict 4400 Ecuador IX Project Fair in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Twenty-seven Ecuadorian Rotary Clubs from across the country presented 45 projects in the areas of water and sanitation, disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, peace and conflict resolution and economic and community development. Rotarians from five countries attended the Fair to look for projects to include in their International efforts. The United States was represented by clubs from Alabama, California, Connecticut, Texas and Georgia.