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Water and Sanitation
In the wake of a disaster, lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation can often worsen already terrible conditions. This is especially true when a large number of people are living in close proximity to one another, as in many of the camps that sprang up following the Haiti earthquake. Episcopal Relief & Development has been collaborating closely with its partners to ensure that survivors have access to clean water and adequate sanitation systems.
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Block latrines are being built to serve approximately 9,300 people in four locations where schools are reopening: St. Etienne, Darbonne, St. Croix and St. Matthieu. Each of these locations will receive one block of ten latrines.
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In addition, household latrines will be repaired in the rural communities of Léogane and up to 1,000 latrines will be built near community structures. In many cases, these locations did not have access to appropriate sanitation prior to the quake.
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At College St. Pierre, a water pump was repaired and a cistern was rehabilitated so residents could store and use clean water. The pump is being run by a 20-kilowatt generator provided by Episcopal Relief & Development. Water systems were also repaired at St. Matthieu in Léogane and Annonciation in Darbonne.
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Development agents were trained in the proper installation, use and maintenance of emergency water filtration systems donated by Water for Life. The agents then distributed these systems to 11 target locations.
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In the week following the quake, the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti’s development office distributed bottled and bagged drinking water in Port-au-Prince and a water tanker truck brought water twice daily to the residents of the College St. Pierre tent camp. The diocese’s development office also helped coordinate the local purchase of water by priests for their communities in the Carrefour and Léogane areas immediately following the quake.
