Project activities completion report : CARE rural water, project no. 517-0232

Except for the Las Baitos system, which was completed in 2/90, all activities were completed before the PACD to the benefit of 33,932 people in 31 small communities. A total of 49 handpumps and 5 piped water systems (4 pump-assisted and 1 gravity-fed) were built. Although all of the water systems function properly, only about 25% of the handpumps are in optimal working order due to the mechanical problems of the Santo Domingo handpump and the difficulty of maintaining sufficient replacement parts; the piped systems have proven more reliable as a source of community water supply. Water quality is acceptable and, with one exception, water quantity is sufficient. Since the project did not provide material support for sanitation units, only 2 latrines were installed. Community organization and participation activities were carried out successfully. Community members -- especially women -- were most active in the construction phase, with labor, local materials, money and food as the most common contributions. Health education activities, on the other hand, being informative in nature, did not allow the community much room for active participation; a major exception was the effort to maintain cleanliness and order at public standpipes and pump sites. Health censuses indicate that many of the original project beneficiaries continued to follow improved hygiene and water use practices after the termination of health education activities. Although water system management committees exist, the sustainability of the project is jeopardized by the failure of the communities to develop maintenance plans. In most communities tools for maintenance are not readily available, and spare parts for the handpumps cannot be purchased locally. Additionally, the collection of water user fees is insufficient, and there is significant dependence upon CARE. USAID/DR should periodically monitor the project, which CARE has continued beyond the PACD, especially since CARE may seek to expand the project in the future.