Our Water Projects

Water is essential for human life, and its access is directly correlated to benefits in health, social equity, literacy, and economic well-being. And yet for many Nicaraguan families, accessing safe water can be a difficult daily challenge, demanding the time of children that might otherwise be learning or women who might otherwise be improving economic conditions for their families. About one-third of the population does not have potable water, a number that increases to about 70 percent in rural areas.

With the generous support of the Cottonwood Foundation and the sweat equity of the local communities, Dos Pueblos has improved access to potable water for over 8,000 people in 15 high-risk communities in rural Tipitapa, Nicaragua.

Our potable water project has not only brought about vast and observable improvements in health and hygiene, but has also provided a catalyst for community organizers to come together to address further environmental and community development issues. Now that women and children are not burdened by the daily task of carrying water over long distances, they can focus more on education and health.

This success is largely due to our partnership model. By working closely with local water committees to design, create, and manage small-scale infrastructure, we tailor each potable water project to the specific needs of each community and ensure sustainability. As one water committee member described the partnership, “you struggle together with us.”