November Project Status Update: Partnership, Clarification, and Steady Progress
Throughout the entire month, the VAVV team held multiple meetings with the Deputy Governor of the Regional Government of Piura, presenting the project, reinforcing the purpose of the easement, and clarifying the long-term benefits for the community. These conversations were essential in strengthening governmental collaboration and ensuring that all levels of leadership understand the urgent need for a safe, community-managed water source in La Merced.
However, during the fourth week of November, the community expressed hesitation regarding the easement request. Leaders shared concerns that the new GRP request appeared to conflict with a separate request they had submitted the previous year to PECHP, the entity they had believed to be the landowner. This misunderstanding has temporarily paused the signing of the easement request. While unexpected, this moment reflects something beautiful about La Merced: a community that deeply values the land, seeks clarity, and wants to protect its future.
VAVV remains committed to walking through this clarification process with patience and transparency. In December, three members of our team, Mahira Vasquez, Eduardo Palma, and Jimmy, a local partner engineer, will visit the community on December 6 to explain in detail that the new request does not conflict with last year’s PECHP submission. The clarity gained in that meeting is expected to restore trust and allow the community to confidently move forward.
Looking ahead, the project’s next steps remain within reach. On December 1, VAVV will hold the long-anticipated kickoff meeting with the Engineering Team to begin the formal planning and design of the well and distribution system. The community is expected to sign the easement request during the second week of December, opening the door for GRP to approve the request in the third week of December. Once approved, VAVV will hire a hydrogeologist consultant in the fourth week of December to conduct a geo-electrical study that will determine the optimal drilling location within the easement.
What’s unfolding in La Merced is the slow, steady work of partnership, clarification, and shared ownership—critical building blocks for a water system that will last for generations.
Las Mercedes KM11 (1,200 people): Strengthening Governance and Pushing Toward Construction
In Las Mercedes KM11, November brought a continued sense of positive momentum. Families have remained encouraged by the daily delivery of clean, safe water through the Water Tanker Truck, a service that has continued throughout the entire month. This reliable access has enabled steady community growth, as more families move back into the area now that water no longer requires long daily walks.
Throughout November, the Water Committee and VAVV team continued their weekly coordination meetings, focusing on strengthening maintenance and operations procedures, improving system management, and refining the community’s revenue and expense controls. These meetings have been crucial to fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and shared long-term responsibility—traits essential for the success of a sustainable water system.
Meanwhile, the Funding Agreement docket—the packet required for the Regional Government of Piura to sign off on construction funding—continued moving through the internal review and approval process. While the progress has been slower than anticipated, our local field leaders have remained proactive. On November 25, community leaders, along with board member Eduardo Palma and VAVV representative Mahira Vasquez, traveled to the GRP offices to advocate for the signing of the Funding Agreement. That same day, a copy of the project maps, now stamped with the updated seal of a licensed engineer, was annexed to the technical record and officially submitted to GRP, strengthening the completeness of the funding packet.
At the community level, preparations are underway for the election of JASS members, the recognized government-affiliated utility team that will legally manage the clean water system. This process began on November 16, marking a meaningful step toward strengthened local governance and ensuring that the community will be fully equipped to manage the system once construction is complete.
As December approaches, Las Mercedes KM11 is preparing for several key milestones. The community will complete its election process and present the balance sheet of Tanker Truck operating costs on December 7, reinforcing transparency in its operations. By December 15, VAVV aims to secure the fully-signed Funding Plan Resolution from the Regional Government, which will unlock the resources needed for full construction. During the second week of December, the community will purchase and install a GPS and alarm system to increase the security of the Water Tanker Truck. And finally, by the fourth week of December, the GRP is expected to contract a construction company and hold the official kickoff meeting for the construction of the ground storage tank and water kiosk—ushering in the long-awaited build phase.
Each step taken this month continues to strengthen the foundation for a reliable, community-managed clean water system that will transform life in Las Mercedes KM11 for generations.
Moving Forward Together
November has shown once again that progress is not always linear—but with perseverance, trust, and partnership, it is always possible. From the careful clarification process unfolding in La Merced to the strengthened governance and nearing construction milestones in Las Mercedes KM11, the foundation is being laid—not just for clean water, but for community empowerment and long-term self-reliance.
Your continued support sustains this work. Every conversation, every meeting, every signature, and every step forward is made possible because you believe in bringing True Water, True Life to those who need it most. As we move into December, we carry your generosity with us into every community we serve.
