Kay Koule Tronpe Soley Men Li Pa Tronpe Lapli
A leaking roof may fool sunny weather, but cannot fool the rain.
Haiti is often referred to as “The Republic of NGOs” because of the amount of aid groups, humanitarian organizations, and non-profits that work here. Especially following the 2010 earthquake, NGOs have flooded into the country to have a hand in everything from healthcare to engineering to education. This has had numerous positive implications for the country as a lot of of these groups bring along expertise, funding, and jobs that can be hard to come by in Haiti. However, because these groups are bringing all of their resources from outside of Haiti, the government has no control over the work they are doing. There is little to no oversight for these groups and so it is important to make sure the organizations that you are supporting are truly doing good work.
April has brought with it the start of Haiti’s rainy season. So far we have had storms almost every night, the level of the lake is rising, and everything is starting to look greener. There are many great things that come along with the rainy season like endless supplies of mangos, but it is also one of the most delicate times of the year when it comes to water resources and the prevalence of waterborne illnesses. As large amounts of rainwater flow along Haiti’s bare mountainsides, it takes everything with it. Trash and contaminants from waste are deposited into the streams, rivers, and lakes people rely on to get water for everything they do including drinking water. Hospitals see a rise in the number of patients suffering from the effects of waterborne diseases like cholera which was introduced to Haiti following the earthquake and has plagued the country ever since. When speaking with one of the head doctors for Zanmi Lasante, the largest healthcare organization in Haiti, we learned just how serious this problem can be. In the past few weeks, upwards of 40 people from surrounding villages have come to the hospital in Cange because of illnesses from their drinking water. One boy even died.
Trash and debris that has washed into Lake Peligre even before the rainy season began.
There are a lot of different groups working to improve Haiti’s drinking water situation and there are many different ways that people are going about it. However, I have learned that there is a big difference in just supplying water verses supplying CLEAN, treated water. It’s also important to make sure that the type of treatment being used is appropriate and sufficient for the water being treated. Making sure water is free of contaminants takes a big commitment. Here in Cange, there are many precautions that we take to make sure the water we provide is safe especially during the rainy season. Filters are cleaned two or three times a day rather than just one and water quality is monitored closely. What has made this system so successful is the commitment that has been made by our team of water technicians to keep it running smoothly. Each member knows that their job is important in ensuring the community of Cange has clean water to drink. Building up a team of locals like this is something that is often looked over when installing water treatment systems in developing communities and is the reason pumps break down, piping is broken, treatment systems are not well cared for, and, in a worst case scenario, communities are left in the same or worse condition than they had before the system was installed. In most cases, failure is not due to mechanical issues, but can be boiled down to improper training or support.
One of the most unique things about the Cange Water System is that the water quality is routinely tested to ensure the water is meeting the standards set by the World Health Organization for drinking water. Every morning Greg, our water quality technician, wakes up before the sun has risen and walks to each fountain throughout the village as well as several check points throughout the hospital. He collects samples of water and writes down information about water usage based on strategically placed water meters. He then brings the samples back to our water testing lab (we’ve learned it’s the only one of its kind in the Central Plateau) where he uses some of the highest quality equipment that is available on the market to test residual chlorine levels and other water quality markers. He records this information on data sheets which are later put into the computer and can be shared and used for system analysis.
Greg collecting water from from on the fountains in Cange.
This is A LOT of work for just one person, but you’ll never hear Greg complaining. He’s faithfully done his job for about four years now and he still enjoys it. I think Greg knows everyone in Cange and everyone knows him too, so for him, he is not working just to make money, he is working to ensure his friends and family have clean drinking water. I also think that he enjoys the fact that his job allows him to walk and talk with everyone around Cange every day.
This commitment to clean water is something that is evident in Cange. People here take pride in having a successful system and clean water and they know that the water can be trusted. One of our friends told us that people will only drink water from the water system because they know it will not make them sick. This makes me proud to be a part of the work that Clemson is doing here as we work to continue strengthening the water system and preparing it for a sustainable future.
I’ve seen many systems in other villages that have broken down, were poorly constructed, or are not providing clean water and have seen firsthand how important it is for CEDC to be an organization that is not only in the business of installing water systems, but making sure that they will stand the test of time. A leaking roof may fool sunny weather, but cannot fool the rain.
