Water in Guatemala: Most Important When You Have None

Named Land of the Eternal Spring, Guatemala is renowned for its verdant green mountains and endless undulating vistas. These eye-catching landscapes are noteworthy for the Technicolor of  blues and greens that saturate the impossibly high inclines of the many volcanic cliffs. Guatemala’s steep terrain allows the gift of rainwater to collect in geographic recesses, which are vital for the rural residents who depend on being able to haul water home from pools that collect in natural basins. During the ever-increasing dry season, these caches of vital water necessary to run a household become concentrated muddy water. Water in Guatemala becomes most important when you have none.

Over the past fifty years, surface water availability has decreased almost 70 percent, creating an extra burden of hardship on those least able to spend the extra calories to walk longer for less water. Diseases caused by water contamination are endemic; Guatemala has the highest child mortality rate of the Central American countries, largely due to water pathogen loads. Domestic wastewater and agricultural runoff cause biological contamination of water near and downstream of populated places. Wastewater treatment is nominal nationwide. Clean water is now considered the “blue gold” of developing countries.

We are a small organization. Finding Freedom can’t hope to change this life-threatening issue for a large number of Guatemala’s most fragile citizens. A waterproof roof and concrete flooring are key elements in keeping a Guatemalan family healthy, and every widow in our program who is eligible receives the gift of one from our donors.

Without water access, a house is not an adequate home. The 150 widows and children who now have FFF sponsored piped water delivered to their households represent a tiny fraction of Guatemala’s citizens. Purchasing water rights for each of the 24 homes we have built is becoming more problematic and expensive.

During the annual home visits next month our volunteers will donate, deliver and educate our FFF families on the necessity of home  filters for the water they now have. Our widows know the value of this life-giving natural resource that now flows easily from their faucets.