An Overview Of Our Solution
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: North America
Address
South America
Malecon
Miraflores
Cuba
Population impacted
Size
Peru
Local resources the community depends on, and for what purpose
Local threats to resources
Climate Hazards
Level of sensitivity
Level of adaptive capacity
Climate change has lead to a decrease in the water supply, which has threatened their food security, health and geographic region.
Ecological Costs
Ecological Benefit
Economic Indicators used to measure benefit
?W�3�W ? Peru?'s activities have increased the capacity of the ecosystem to adapt to potential climate changes: (i) ensuring water availability during dry spells and (ii) avoiding the presence of very shallow ground water, (iii) controlling soil salinization by capillary rise since freatic levels will be lowered, (iv) assisting in maintaining agricultural land under production and (v) supporting food security through the production of agricultural lands.
Economic Cost
?W�3�W ? Peru?'s activities from its inception in 2005 have been funded by citizens of Switzerland. A German group, becoming aware of our activities in Peru, joined the Swiss to provide financial assistance the last three years (2011 onwards). Each of the projects submitted by ?W�3�W ? Peru? is revised and approved for implementation by the Swiss. So far, 1880 pedal pumps have been constructed and installed at subsidized rates to beneficiaries and 87 small-diameter tube wells had been installed. ? Ecological Costs Avoiding soil salinization is an unintended consequence. Lands preserve their salinity levels at moderate values, not harmful to crops and therefore lands maintain a sustained crop production, contributing to food security. The same is true for vegetable production from family plots. Better health enjoyed by rural population is another unintended consequence since they have water for domestic use.
Economic Benefit
Knowledge of low cost manual boring techniques to tap shallow ground waters will continue to spread ensuring a sustainable exploitation and a balance of ground water resources and at the same time, avoiding land degradation by water logging and soil salinity.
Ecological Indicators used to measure benefit
Field activities implemented by ?W�3�W ? Peru? are in progress. The ecological benefits that will be used to measure the benefits are: (i) total productive areas in low lands with presence of shallow ground waters and (ii) the use of pedal pumps instead of internal combustion engines will surely contribute to the control of CO2 emissions. With the increased concern of global greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are researching ways to limit the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere in an effort to mitigate the atmospheric CO2 concentration increase. Currently there is a global push to limit CO2 emissions through Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies.
What were/are the challenges your community faced in implementing this solution?
?W�3�W ? Peru?'s activities from its inception in 2005 have been funded by citizens of Switzerland. A German group, becoming aware of our activities in Peru, joined the Swiss to provide financial assistance the last three years (2011 onwards). Each of the projects submitted by ?W�3�W ? Peru? is revised and approved for implementation by the Swiss. So far, 1880 pedal pumps have been constructed and installed at subsidized rates to beneficiaries and 87 small-diameter tube wells had been installed. ?W�3�W ? Peru? is a nonprofit organization, also known as nongovernmental organization (NGO). Personally, I have been responsible for project identification, planning and implementation since 2005 of all of the NGO's field activities. However, my involvement with these technical matters has been through my professional career. I am a graduate in agricultural engineering from the Agrarian University ?La Molina, Lima Peru (1964) and hold a Master`s degree in Agricultural Engineering from Utah State University in Logan (1969). My field experience with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (1971-2004) is worldwide (Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe). Contacts with the rural communities are done through the leaders (President and Delegates of the Peasant Communities), Presidents of the Waters Users Commissions, Boards of Users at basin levels, Community leaders and school principals and teachers.
Describe the community-based process used to develop the solution including tools and processes used
Water in order to have irrigated agriculture to sustain livelihood
Climate hazard of concern
How does your solution reduce the exposure of and buffer/protect the ecosystem affected?
As described above, the level of exposure to climate change is very high: increased temperatures, extraordinary climate events (ENSO), drought and floods. Per� is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climatic change and exhibits several of the vulnerability characteristics faced by countries in Latin American as proposed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Current estimates point out that inaction to implement adequate measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change would lead to economic, social and environmental losses amounting at least to 20% of the potential PBI in year 2050. The vulnerability characteristics applicable to Peru are: Sector Vulnerability Water ? Increase in the number of people experiencing water stress. ? Runoff and water supply in many areas compromised due to loss and retreat of glaciers. ? Reduction in water quality in some areas due to an increase in floods and droughts. Agriculture and food security ? Reductions of crop yield in some areas, although other areas may see increases in yields. ? By the 2050s, agricultural lands are very likely to be subjected to desertification and salinization in some areas. ? Food security a problem in dry areas where agricultural land subject to salinization and erosion reducing crop yields and livestock productivity. Health ? Heat stress and changing patterns in the occurrence of disease vectors risk to health. Terrestrial Ecosystems ? Significant habitat loss and species extinctions in many tropical areas, including tropical forests, due to higher temperatures and loss of groundwater with effects on indigenous communities. Coastal Zones ? Impacts on low lying areas, coastal cities and coastal morphology, coral reefs and mangroves, location of fish stocks, availability of drinking water and tourism due to sea level rise and extreme events.
How has your solution increased the capacity of the ecosystem to adapt to potential climate changes?
?W�3�W ? Peru? is working in three regions (Piura, Lambayeque and La Libertad) of the Coastal area. The local populations and rural communities in these areas are mainly dedicated to irrigated agriculture, although other activities like fishing, mining, manufacture, construction are as well practiced. Agriculture is only possible under irrigation since annual rainfall is almost negligible, except in the case of extraordinary events, like the El Ni�o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Rural population suffers from lack of water resources for domestic purposes, for the irrigation of family plots and for livestock. There are shallow water tables that may be tapped to tackle the lack of water. Currently, many rural inhabitants suffer from climate effects. They use any available source of water for survival: water from irrigation canals when there is running water; ground water from open large-diameter well (when they exists) or from elevated tanks that provide water for two hours every other day, etc. Gastrointestinal disorders are common in these areas.
How does your solution reduce the exposure of and buffer/protect the communities affected?
We have worked in the area for about ten years and are in contact with the rural population and of course are acquainted with their shortcomings. Further we have identified that there are some rural schools that do not have piped water. All of them have requested us to assist in the provision of water resources for domestic use. We can easily understand that rural populations and schools lacking water indeed suffer a lot. We contacted rural populations through their leaders so that they will participate in project implementation.
How does your solution reduce the sensitivity of the communities affected?
Since 2005, ?Water for the Third World ? Peru? (?W�3�W Peru?), a nonprofit organization, has been working in different rural areas of Peru undertaking actions with the aim of assisting the rural population to have access to water to meet their basic needs at their homes, to provide water for livestock and/or to irrigate family plots for vegetables production with low pressure drip systems of irrigation. Furthermore, it has developed suitable augers to install small-diameter tube wells for ground water exploitation. These activities are implemented in view of the increasing difficulty rural populations face to have access to water due to climate change. Among the actions undertaken by ?W�3�W Peru? are: ? Construction and installation of the Swiss-pedal pump ? Developing equipment and methodology for hand drilling of small diameter tube wells to tap shallow groundwater ? Drilling of small-diameter tube wells for pumping groundwater for domestic, for livestock and irrigation of family plots. ? Installation of some family plots, with drip irrigation, for vegetable production. The following table presents the number of Swiss pedal pumps (PEPs) constructed and installed in different localities as well as the number of tube wells bored in Peru: (I have attached the table as a document) All activities described below fall under the title ?ADJUSTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE BY TACKLING THIRST AND SUPPORTING FOOD SECURITY IN ARID AREAS OF PERU? Shallow groundwater resources are present in the coastal areas of the three regions of work: Piura, Lambayeque and La Libertad. My overseas work (1971- 2001) with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations enabled me to look at convenient, fast, practical and reasonable priced solutions for the pumping of water and/or the boring of small diameter tube wells. These wells are widely used in Pakistan for the provision of domestic water in rural areas. The solution: drill four-inch diameter tube wells up to 30 feet in depth for the pumping water of water for domestic purposes. Pumping is done by the use of suitable hand operated pedal pumps. Water availability provides the opportunity to diversify their live hoods by growing domestic animals or cultivating small vegetable gardens, indeed, improving food security and reducing the risk of water scarcity. The file attached to this entry describes one of the implemented projects in the Lambayeque Region; through the project, fifty pedal pumps were constructed and installed as well as 50 small-diameter tube wells were bored. Chart: Pedal Pump and Boreholes Construction in Peru Year and project Locality No. of PUMPS No. of Tubewells 2003 Chao, Viru, Moche 30 2004 Cajamarca 60 2005 GCP/PER/037/SWI Peasant Community San Juan Bautista of Catacaos, Piura 35 2006 Peasant Community San Juan Bautista of Catacaos, Piura 40 2006 Peasant Community San Juan Bautista of Catacaos, Piura 80 2006 GCP/PER/037/SWI Casma, Ancash 35 2006 GCP/PER/037/SWI Caman�, Arequipa 30 2007 GCP/PER/037/SWI Ayacucho 35 2007- 2008 GCP/PER/037/SWI Chiclayo 35 2007-2008 Chao, Vir�, Moche 100 2008 OSRO/PER/702/PER Ayacucho region 1,000 2009 - P32 Piura 20 2008-2009 - P33 Mocupe, Lambayeque 100 2009-2010 - P34 Mocupe, Lambayeque 100 2011-2012 - P35 Lambayeque and Piura 50 50 2010-2012 - P36 Piura ? Program Consolidation - - 2013-2014 - P37 La Libertad and Lambayeque 100 30 2013 ? 2014 - P38 Piura 30 7 TOTAL 1,880 87 All activities described below fall under the title ?ADJUSTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE BY TACKLING THIRST AND SUPPORTING FOOD SECURITY IN ARID AREAS OF PERU? Shallow groundwater resources are present in the coastal areas of the three regions of work: Piura, Lambayeque and La Libertad. My overseas work (1971- 2001) with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations enabled me to look at convenient, fast, practical and reasonable priced solutions for the pumping of water and/or the boring of small diameter tube wells. These wells are widely used in Pakistan for the provision of domestic water in rural areas. The solution: drill four-inch diameter tube wells up to 30 feet in depth for the pumping water of water for domestic purposes. Pumping is done by the use of suitable hand operated pedal pumps. Water availability provides the opportunity to diversify their live hoods by growing domestic animals or cultivating small vegetable gardens, indeed, improving food security and reducing the risk of water scarcity. The file attached to this entry describes one of the implemented projects in the Lambayeque Region; through the project, fifty pedal pumps were constructed and installed as well as 50 small-diameter tube wells were bored.
How has your solution increased the capacity of local communities to adapt to potential climate changes?
Drought
Can this solution be replicated elsewhere?
? Rural population is empowered with consciousness regarding water availability both in quantity and quality ? Better health conditions and improved living conditions. ? Sustainable crop production in salt-free lands.