Welcome to the final email in our Water Quality Month series! In this edition, we’re taking you on a journey through two countries in Latin America where CAWST is actively working to improve water and sanitation conditions: Brazil and Colombia.

Brazil: The land of blue, green, and yellow

Our journey begins in the vibrant landscapes of Brazil, specifically in the state of Bahia, a land located in the northeast region bordering the Amazon rainforest from one side and the Atlantic Ocean to the other, home to the most populated semi-arid place in the world. Here, the seasons are as extreme as they are distinct, with the year divided into a harsh dry season and a torrential rainy season.

In the semi-arid communities of Bahia state, water scarcity is a daily challenge. Most settlements lack access to piped water, and during the long dry seasons, reliable water sources are scarce. People often depend on shallow wells, communal taps, or unpredictable water trucks. The lack of water treatment and the irregularity of supply pose significant risks to water quality, which directly affects the health and well-being of the local population.

Our WASH advisor Raul Guerrero is building a relationship with the Mamiraua Institute of Sustainable Development, a key research institution in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. This collaboration will be instrumental in empowering local WASH organizations to share knowledge on the ground and significantly advance water expertise; which could be scalable to other regions, such as the Brazilian semi-arid territory.

Colombia: a region of resilience and hope

Our journey takes us to Colombia, where Paola Cárdenas, CAWST’s senior manager for WASH services in Latin America, recently visited the Chocó region. This area faces severe challenges from both conflict and natural disasters. With no centralized water networks, accessing safe water is a struggle for displaced populations and local communities.

Collaborating with organizations like the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Red Cross, CAWST identified a need for emergency training in Chocó. A survey tool was developed to prioritize topics, with a focus on improving chlorine usage to ensure safe water for travelers heading to Panama.

This initiative is a key milestone for CAWST, offering vital in-person training for those in WASH clusters in areas of Colombia without centralized networks. By partnering with local and international groups, we’re laying the groundwork for future efforts to strengthen water and sanitation project teams across the country.

Looking ahead

As we wrap up this month, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for joining us on this journey through Brazil and Colombia. These stories highlight the diverse challenges faced by communities in Latin America and the crucial role that collaboration and knowledge-sharing play in overcoming them. We hope you found it both enlightening and meaningful!

If you’d like to know more about the stories behind the scenes of our work around the world, subscribe to our Global Notebook series. You’ll be the first to receive updates and learn from our staff as they travel worldwide providing training and consulting to help organizations, communities and individuals access safe water, sanitation and hygiene.