April Project Status Update: New Beginning and Promising Steps Forward!

As we step into May, Vera Aqua Vera Vita is thrilled to share exciting updates from two impactful clean water projects in the Piura region of Peru. In Las Mercedes KM11, our team and the local community are nearing a breakthrough in securing the Water Tanker Truck that will deliver clean water daily to over 1,200 people. Meanwhile, in La Merced, a new community project is underway with encouraging early results that could soon offer a safe and sustainable water source to families in need.

Las Mercedes KM11: A New Truck and a Big Step Forward

April was a month of major decision-making for the leaders and residents of Las Mercedes KM11 (LM KM11). After holding several meetings to evaluate options, the community selected a newer, higher-capacity Water Tanker Truck located in Lima at the same price. The transaction is now scheduled for May 7, and leaders from the community will travel to Lima to complete the purchase and bring the truck back to Piura. This marks an exciting turning point in the LM KM11 project!

This truck is a critical part of the community's clean water solution because once the truck is operational, it can bring clean water directly to the heart of the community (even before we’ve fully completed the sustainable clean water solution), filling the community’s ongoing immediate needs! Once the solution is fully operational, the truck will deliver water from a safe source into the storage and distribution facilities, and the water will be sold consistently and affordably to the community.

VAVV also continued to follow up on the Funding Plan Agreement with the Regional Government of Piura (GRP). The process has experienced delays due to heavy turnover in government personnel, but our team remains committed to pushing this agreement forward to fund the construction of the system’s infrastructure.

La Merced: New Beginnings and Positive Water Testing

We’re excited to officially announce that Vera Aqua Vera Vita has begun work in a new community: La Merced—a small village in the Piura region with urgent clean water needs. Though it shares a name with Las Mercedes KM11, La Merced is a very different community with its own unique challenges and context. Located in a more remote rural area, La Merced has long relied on limited and unverified water sources.

In April, our engineering team visited La Merced to explore potential well locations and initiate the first steps of the project. On April 5, two engineers arrived to evaluate the area and determine possible drilling sites. A water sample from a nearby private well was collected on April 12, and by April 28, the results were in—low presence of contaminants and no heavy metals. This is a promising sign that the well could serve as a safe, reliable, and low-cost solution for the community’s water needs.

This marks a major milestone as we begin our journey to bring true water and true life to La Merced. As a next step, we’ll be conducting a Water Quality Test from the nearby canal to rule out the need for water treatment and compare potential sources. Once complete, the community will come together to choose the best path forward. If the well remains the best option, we’ll conduct a pump test on the well to determine the volume and recharge capacities of the acquifer plus subsurface geo-electrical surveys to pinpoint the ideal drilling location.

La Merced may be just beginning its journey, but with your support and our team’s experience, we believe it won’t be long before this community too has access to clean, sustainable water.

Looking Ahead

In May, we plan to complete the truck purchase and vehicle registration process for Las Mercedes KM11, as well as advance the funding agreement with GRP. In La Merced, our priority is to complete the canal water testing and engage the community to decide the best way forward. Both projects are making steady progress, thanks in large part to your support.

Help Us Cross the Finish Line

Our Capital Campaign is still underway to raise $40,000, which will fully fund the construction and implementation of the Las Mercedes KM11 clean water system. Right now, we're focused on reaching our $13,000 milestone to finalize the Water Tanker Truck purchase—a key step in bringing clean water to 1,200+ people.

Every gift makes a difference. 100% of funds raised go directly to project costs. Join us in making water access a reality.