The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated a drinking water system to the community of Villa de Santa Ana Nichi in Mexico on Feb. 18.
The project included installing a large concrete tank, durable pipes, and a solar-powered pump. The community has long gone without access to clean water. This unmet need has negatively affected the health and well-being of the community members.
The infrastructure, proposed and implemented by the local organization Juntos Podemos Más, will provide clean drinking water to 2,500 people, elementary schools, and a hospital across five neighborhoods. Operational costs will be reduced through the installation of 88 solar panels. This will also help ensure the reliability of the system.
The community of Santa Ana Nichi has suffered from gastrointestinal and parasitic diseases due to contaminated river and rainwater. These diseases have especially targeted children and the elderly. The Church hopes this donation will improve the health and quality of life for the community.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to [collaborate] with Juntos Podemos Más and the community of Villa de Santa Ana Nichi to address this need," said Elder Carlos A. Gabaldón, an Area Seventy representing the Church. "We believe in the importance of helping our fellow beings meet their basic needs and build a better future."
The delegate of Villa de Santa Ana Nichi and president of the association Juntos Podemos Más, Octavio Alavez, said, "A million thanks to the Church of Jesus Christ for trusting and believing in the people who live in this beautiful land [and]for bringing water where it is needed most. Let us be a chain of blessings. Let us do good for others as it has been done for us."
The community is committed to covering the maintenance costs of the solar panels and water system. The project includes a long-term plan to ensure the sustainability of the water system.
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