About the Project
EWB Detroit was approved for a new project in the community of El Balsamar, El Salvador this past September. We are thrilled to be able to continue working with the people of El Balsamar, since we recently took our last trip to close out our sanitation project there.
Earlier this year, the community residents of El Balsamar have voiced a concern on wastewater disposal, understanding that downstream residents and the greater municipality could be affected by upstream pollution. With the help of their resident non-government organization (NGO), GAIA, El Balsamar and the EWB Detroit Professionals will focus on assessing the affect of home wastewater disposal on the El Balsamar watershed. Members of EWB Detroit traveled to El Balsamar this past December to perform an initial survey of wastewater disposal and to map likely affected natural water systems. The Detroit Professionals will utilize gathered preliminary data for a comprehensive assessment trip slated for Spring 2018. It is the direct support of our sponsors that allows EWB-Detroit to confidently plan trips such as these, and, in turn, directly impact the communities we serve.
El Balsamar is a small agrarian community of roughly 800 people situated two hours outside of the capital city of San Salvador. El Balsamar is currently the recipient of our highly successful composting latrine construction project.”
