Haiti’s residents of Fonds-Baptiste rejoice with a new solar-powered water system

ARCAHAIE — For two grueling hours every day, families in  Fonds-Baptiste would embark on a treacherous journey, navigating steep mountain slopes and winding paths just to reach the life-sustaining water source called Source Marianne. Carrying heavy five-gallon containers, this perilous adventure used to be a twice-daily ordeal for most inhabitants of this communal section of nearly 10,000 people in the West Department—about 40 miles north of Port-au-Prince. However, relief is in sight with support from the Canadian-based Foundation for International Development Assistance and Haiti’s Productive Cooperatives (FIDA/PCH), bringing hope for the villagers’ brighter days ahead.

It took more than 20 years of community efforts and numerous unsuccessful attempts before finally finding the right method to extract water from the source. That was enough to fill reservoirs and provide kiosks—booths of tap water—- which release daily flows of adequate water to the people. The first successful test of water delivery to the community was made on May 8, since then, the population has been overjoyed to receive clean and fresh water within their community. 

“Finding water was a real headache for me and my family,” explained Jean-Mary Edner Raymond, a resident of Madercosse locality, an area bordering the Marianne Source. Despite his relative proximity to the water source, Raymond said it usually takes him hours to get to the location, fill his containers and return home. “It wasn’t a simple journey,” he insists.

Impactful project ever implemented in the area, some residents say

Currently, the situation has significantly improved for the majority of people. The FIDA/PCH engineering prowess, combined with the dedicated efforts of community members who worked tirelessly as laborers on the project, is paying off as the project contributes to making clean chlorine-treated water reach closer to where people live. Four water reservoirs were built to make it possible. The water is stored and distributed from tank to tank until it reaches the kiosk near the households.

Getting the water running could not have been achieved without the project managers’ unwavering dedication and collaboration with the contracted firms and local community members. Fond-Baptiste, a remote area lacking electricity, posed significant challenges. Due to the difficult terrain, it was considered too risky to equip the system with a generator to power the pools and kiosks. As a more sustainable solution, project managers chose to implement solar energy. 

“Seventy panels were installed, generating enough energy to transport water from the source to the kiosk,” explained Richardson Daniel, project coordinator at PCH.

The realization of this project was a lengthy process, especially given the current climate where national roads are often controlled by gangs. Although initially designed to be completed in 12 months, the project took over two years to reach the provisional reception of the kiosk.

According to Vaniel Jean, assistant director of FIDA/PCH, the steps involved conducting a topographical study of the water sources, performing an in-depth hydraulic study to identify stations, preparing a technical coordination team to ensure the proper calibration of pumps, determining the optimal photovoltaic power required, involving the entire Fonds-Baptiste community in the implementation, and establishing a robust management infrastructure.

“This is the best project that we could implement in the area. Before, I had to travel more than three times a day just to get water,” an emotional Mikerlange Jean says after the first test was carried out successfully.  Jean is a resident of Ma Lave, a locality in Fonds-Baptiste.

“This kiosk allows me to save time and energy, and I can now carry out other activities,” Jean shares.

The project milestone is achieved, but the journey continues 

One of the committee project managers, Arsène Pierre, joined the local community’s chorus to express his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the project. He said the kiosk sells more than 750 gallons of water daily.

“During the first test in less than two hours, 1,290 gallons of water were released, which shows how thirsty the villagers were for this project,” Pierre explained. 

 “This is the best project that we could implement in the area. Before, I had to travel more than three times a day just to get water.”

Mikerlange Jean, Resident of Ma Lave Locality.

Despite significant progress, Fonds-Baptiste’s water supply situation is still challenging Some populated and mountainous areas remain relatively far from the newly built water kiosk, necessitating support for these communities to build their own water kiosks. “FIDA/PCH is planning to help at least four more communities, particularly those that are most disadvantaged,” Assistant Director Jean assured.

Jean acknowledges that people in communities such as Chenchiron, Kay Louis, Kay Pierre and Kounòl are still in difficult situations, as they must undertake risky trips to access the actual water kiosk. “Now, the primary obstacle is the lack of funding for building more water kiosks,” he said. 

Project managers are relying on the continuing support of the Canadian  British Columbia-based Hope International Development Agency (HIDA), which has agreed to fund the project with CAD $360,000 or about USD $261,000. 

“The challenges are enormous, but we are on the right track,” Daniel said, adding that completing this project’s first phase is a significant victory for a community that has suffered so much without safe access to water for more than 20 years. 

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Haiti’s residents of Fonds-Baptiste rejoice with a new solar-powered water system was first posted on June 17, 2024 at 8:34 am.