April Project Status Update: Construction Coordination & Well Testing
April brought clear, meaningful movement across Vera Aqua Vera Vita’s four active clean water projects in rural Peru. From construction coordination in Las Mercedes KM11 to pump testing in Las Mercedes, land-rights advocacy in La Merced, and early data collection in Totoral Bajo, each community took important steps toward lasting clean water access. Some projects are moving into technical and construction phases, while others are still building the legal and community foundation required for long-term success—but across all four communities, the mission continues to move forward with persistence, partnership, and hope.
Las Mercedes KM11: Construction Coordination and Community Ownership Advance
In Las Mercedes KM11, April marked an important shift toward construction readiness. The Water Tanker Truck continued supporting the community throughout the month, with more families moving back into the area as water access becomes more reliable. Meanwhile, the Water Committee continued meeting weekly with VAVV to strengthen maintenance and operations procedures, system management, and revenue and expense controls—ensuring that the community is not only receiving water now, but preparing to manage the future system sustainably.
On April 1, the Regional Government of Piura held a kickoff meeting for construction coordination and provided design observations for VAVV to address. VAVV and GRP met again on April 13 to review additional recommendations, and VAVV will deliver the requested design adjustments by the fourth week of May. At the same time, the JASS continued gathering signatures throughout April to expand from 60 to 200 members, with VAVV helping photograph additional villagers on April 26 to support registration with SUNARP. In May, the community aims to complete JASS registration in the second week, while VAVV and GRP work toward finalizing bid-phase logistics and the construction team plan in the fourth week of May.
La Merced: Land-Rights Advocacy Continues Toward a Legal Path Forward
La Merced remains delayed due to land-rights issues, but the community continued taking important steps in April to secure the legal foundation needed for a future water system. Throughout the month, village leaders visited both the GRP and PECHP offices to seek support for their request to PECHP regarding the allocation of private lands and property rights by landowner or occupant. This work is slow, but it is essential; before infrastructure can be built, the community needs a clear legal path to receive easements, sign agreements, and sustain the project responsibly.
In May, leaders and GRP officers—including the Deputy Manager of International Technical Cooperation—are expected to advocate together before PECHP for the adjudication of private property rights in favor of the villagers. VAVV will continue coordinating meetings between community leaders, GRP, and PECHP throughout all of May, while the community keeps meeting with PECHP, GRP, and the Ministry of Agriculture. The community will also continue working to incorporate as a private legal entity able to receive easements and sign legal agreements, a critical step toward unlocking the next phase of project development.
Las Mercedes: Pump Testing to Begin
In Las Mercedes, April brought major technical progress as the project moved closer to well construction. Throughout the month, two different engineers confirmed the conclusions of the geoelectrical surveys, validating the proposed well location before construction begins. Community leaders also continued the process of incorporating the community as a legal entity, ensuring the project can move forward with both technical confidence and proper local structure.
During the first week of May, the final evaluation step will be the hydrogeologic pump test on a nearby existing, private well to evaluate the capacity of the aquifer to ensure the community well to be constructed will be able to provide sustainable water flow for generations to come. Looking ahead, VAVV plans to begin the hard engineering design for the groundwater well and associated infrastructure during the third week of May, while the community gathers a General Assembly of 50 villagers, including 20 founding members, to create and incorporate the Association of Villagers of Las Mercedes that same week.
Totoral Bajo: Early Data Collection Shapes the Future System
In Totoral Bajo, April focused on the early information needed to design the right water solution for the community. Throughout the month, leaders continued providing details on the demographics and geography of the community’s different sectors. Because earlier studies showed that underground water is not available, this project is expected to rely on a future river-based surface-water solution, making accurate data on land, population, water demand, and river capacity especially important.
VAVV also discussed the project with local engineers who may volunteer to help with data collection, strengthening the technical support behind the early evaluation process. In May, leaders will continue providing maps, land-rights information, population demographics, and growth plans, while VAVV guides additional data gathering and continues detailed study of water-use demand and river capacity throughout the month. These early steps are laying the foundation for a system that is designed around the community’s actual needs and future growth.
Looking Ahead
April showed that progress takes many forms: construction coordination, legal advocacy, pump testing, data collection, and community organization. Across all four active projects, VAVV is working alongside local leaders to build clean water solutions that are technically sound, legally grounded, and truly community-owned.
As we move into May, we also invite you to step more deeply into this mission. If you’ve ever felt called to serve, consider joining VAVV on our upcoming Mission Trip and Pilgrimage to Peru, where you can walk alongside the communities we serve, witness this work firsthand, and take part in bringing True Water, True Life to families in need.
