WATER MANAGEMENT IN A HIGH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY
Patricia Rojas2, María Pérez1, Gloria Jaime2, Marcela Medina2, Cintia Romero2, Juana Albarracín1 y Cristina Torres2
1 Fundación FEDUCAVI, Mendoza 387, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
2Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia- Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Ayacucho 471 - San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
ABSTRACT
Actions developed in the community of Las Carreras (Dept. Tafi del Valle, Tucuman, Argentina) located at 2400 m high and 13 km from Tafi del Valle are described.
It is a dispersed rural sector. The population, about 100 families, is very poor. Many of them belong to indigenous peoples. Villagers perform some crops, and work as temporary workers.
The area is located in School Nº 22, full-time. More than 150 students attend initial and primary level, some with disabilities.
The water consumed by the population comes from the river Los Alisos, through different forms of connection. It is distributed precariously without proper treatment or chlorination, which is highly contaminated. After rain, the water is muddy and parasites can drag and trash.
Villagers are forced to buy mineral water, earnestly by transport, which is very expensive. They need to have with potable water and a more appropriate distribution network.
In this area they have been developed from a science faculty University Volunteer projects through which the problem has been alleviated. He participated in these actions the FEDUCAVI Foundation.
It would still be necessary:
-Reformulate the current water network.
-Build an infrastructure to supply potable water to the population.
-Provide home water tanks.
-To train students of the school as disseminators of water issues.
- To train community leaders to strive for self-management of water-To promote healthy behaviors regarding water resources.
For this stage, FEDUCAVI has obtained a grant from the prestigious Probitas of Barcelona (Spain) Foundation. By the subsidy is expected to complete the planned actions.
Dimension of Science and Politics: Water, Sanitation and Health
Keywords: Drinking water, Water management, University Volunteer