October Project Status Update: Design Completion & New Direction
As we close out the month of October, we're pleased to bring updates on our clean water projects and share some important milestones in our mission. While our project in Cerro de Leones has taken a new direction, the Las Mercedes KM 11 initiative is moving forward with major progress on the path to providing clean water access.
Cerro de Leones: A New Path Forward
Through new government initiatives expanding access to clean water, Cerro de Leones now has a promising alternative solution that will meet the community’s needs. After careful evaluation and in collaboration with local leaders, Vera Aqua Vera Vita and the community have mutually agreed to reallocate our resources toward other high-impact projects where our support can address urgent water needs. This decision reflects our commitment to working with communities to achieve sustainable, locally empowered solutions, with the flexibility to adapt as new opportunities arise. We are grateful for the trust and partnership with Cerro de Leones and look forward to supporting them in other meaningful ways as needed.
Las Mercedes KM11: Progress Toward a Sustainable Water System
Our commitment to bringing clean water to Las Mercedes KM11 continues to make great strides. In the first few weeks of October, we received the Water Quality Test Report from EPS Grau for the Catacaos groundwater well, verifying that the water meets high drinking water standards. This ensures the quality of water we’re currently trucking in for residents, which marks a significant step in providing reliable access to safe drinking water for Las Mercedes KM11.
Engaging Community Collaboration
Throughout October, our team met twice weekly with community leaders, holding meetings every Monday and Thursday to refine project plans and address community needs. This ongoing engagement helps maintain strong alignment with residents and ensures our project meets both immediate and long-term requirements for clean water in the area.
Completing Construction Plans and Moving Toward Implementation
We’re thrilled to report that full construction plans, including calculations and CAD drawings for the trucked-in water solution, were finalized in the final weeks of October. The plans have been fully translated into Spanish as of October 31st, allowing us to begin a preliminary operational cost analysis to evaluate the capital cost for the water tanker truck and balance these with ongoing operational costs. This analysis serves three key purposes:
Balancing Costs: To find a sustainable balance between capital and operational expenses.
Estimating Costs for Water Sale Rate: Calculating the anticipated operational costs will help us set a fair and feasible water sale rate.
Fundraising for Capital Costs: The operational analysis will allow us to initiate capital fundraising efforts to implement this life-changing clean water solution for the community of over 1,200 residents.
Next Steps in Project Development
As we approach the final phase of project development, several critical milestones lie ahead. Our immediate focus areas include finalizing cost estimates for the reservoir and distribution facility, securing a power supply through coordination with ENOSA, and beginning the search for capital funding. With construction plans ready, we are also preparing to obtain contractor bids, aiming to select a contractor and establish a construction start date soon.
Looking Forward
As we wrap up October, we’re energized by the progress in Las Mercedes KM 11 and grateful for the new opportunities opening up for Cerro de Leones. We’re looking forward to the next phase of nearing construction, committed to working hand-in-hand with communities to deliver sustainable, locally managed clean water solutions. Thank you for following along as we continue to build a brighter future for Las Mercedes KM11!
