Breakthrough Signatures and Forward Momentum
February brought meaningful forward movement across our four active clean water projects in the Piura region. While some communities continue navigating complex land and permitting processes, others reached major milestones that shift them decisively into implementation. From signed agreements to finalized statutes and contractor coordination, this month reflects both perseverance and breakthrough.
Las Mercedes KM11 (1200 people): Funding Agreement Signed and Construction Preparation Begins
February marked a pivotal breakthrough in Las Mercedes KM11. After months of delay within the Regional Government review process, the Funding Agreement was officially signed by the Regional Government of Piura (GRP) on February 23, and the document is now being routed to VAVV for final signature to formalize the agreement. This signature represents the exciting, formal green light to advance into construction coordination!
Throughout all of February, the Water Committee continued meeting weekly with VAVV to strengthen maintenance and operations procedures, improve system management, and refine revenue and expense controls to optimize long-term sustainability. Specifically on February 26, the JASS registered its upgraded statutes before a Notary Public and is now prepared to complete formal registration in Public Records during the first week of March. This step ensures the community’s legal authority to manage the water system once construction is complete.
Looking ahead, March is expected to be decisive. The GRP is expected to select a contractor and a construction kickoff meeting with VAVV and the contractor is targeted for the third week of March. If timelines hold, this will mark the official transition from preparation to physical construction of the ground storage tank and kiosk in short order to follow from there.
La Merced (200 people): Continued Land Conversations and Structural Preparation
La Merced remains in a delayed status due to the ongoing challenge of securing land property rights and easement documentation. Throughout all of February, the community continued direct conversations with PECHP, the Regional Government of Piura (GRP), and the Ministry of Agriculture, seeking allocation of private lands and property rights for individual landowners and occupants.
Although no easement has yet been secured, February reinforced the persistence of the community and the importance of multi-level coordination. The next phase requires deeper engagement with newly appointed GRP officers. VAVV plans to initiate conversations with these new officers during the second week of March to support the community in advancing land property solutions.
In parallel, the project team plans to meet with the Engineering Team throughout all of March to continue formal planning and design of the water system infrastructure. The community is also preparing to incorporate into a private legal entity capable of receiving easements and signing agreements, with incorporation targeted for the fourth week of March. While this process remains complex, the work happening now lays the legal and institutional foundation necessary for long-term success.
Las Mercedes (1200 people): Formal Project Launch and Early Planning Milestones
In Las Mercedes, February marked the formal signing of the Scope of Services Agreement. On February 24, Community Leaders and Vera Aqua Vera signed the Scope of Services Agreement for the clean water project, formally launching VAVV’s work in this community.
With the agreement signed, March will focus on advancing both technical and organizational milestones. During the first and second weeks of March, VAVV’s local hydrogeologist sub-consultant will conduct geo-electrical and pump test studies to determine the optimal drilling location within the designated easement area. The contractor is expected to finalize these surveys during the second week of March, providing the data necessary for preliminary engineering decisions.
In addition, the community plans to gather approximately 50 villagers, including 20 founding members, during the fourth week of March to formally create and incorporate the Association of Villagers of Las Mercedes. Towards the end of March, the Engineering Team will also begin formal planning and design of the water system infrastructure. These parallel efforts—technical validation and institutional formation—set the stage for a well-structured project moving forward.
Totoral Bajo (800 people): Formal Agreement Received and Technical Data Collection Advancing
In Totoral Bajo, February represented steady, on-time progress. On February 16, Vera Aqua Vera Vita shared the Scope of Services Agreement for the clean water project with the Community Leaders. The formal signing of this agreement is scheduled for the first week of March, solidifying the partnership and enabling deeper technical work to proceed.
Unlike well-based systems, Totoral Bajo’s solution will rely on a river uptake structure due to confirmed lack of groundwater. As a result, work in March and April to come will focus heavily on detailed hydrological data collection and analyses. Beginning in March and continuing throughout the month, the team will conduct further detailed data collection on water offer, demand, and river capacity to determine sustainable production levels.
Community members will support this effort throughout March, particularly during the second week, assisting in field data collection and validation. These steps are critical to ensure that the eventual intake structure is properly sized and technically sound before moving into design.
Looking Ahead
February demonstrated that while some projects require patience and institutional coordination, others are now crossing critical thresholds into implementation. With the Funding Agreement signed in Las Mercedes KM11, formal agreements executed in Las Mercedes, data collection planning in Totoral Bajo in development, and continued land-rights advocacy in La Merced, all four projects remain active and advancing through their respective phases.
We remain committed to transparent reporting as each community moves closer to sustainable, community-managed clean water. Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us as this work unfolds—step by step, signature by signature, and soon, shovel by shovel.
