Wirkini Water Reservoir is Full of Water

by | Mar 11, 2024 | Blog | 0 comments

Mano a Mano staff recently visited the Wirkini water reservoir, which is full of water.

Water flowing through the channel at the Wirkini water reservoir, March 2024
The Wirkini water reservoir is 14,000 feet above sea level.

This project – 14,000 feet above sea level – was started in 2012 and completed in 2016; it provides irrigation water to at least 341 Bolivian farm families in the area and irrigates 269 hectares of land (average family size is 6, for a total number of beneficiaries of 2,046). Water is typically only available in the Bolivian Highlands for the 2-3 month rainy season, and the rest of the year is a struggle for farmers to have water access for their crops and livestock (And in recent years, there has been very little rain during the rainy seasons.)

The goal of these Mano a Mano water reservoir projects is to retain water and provide water access year-round for Bolivian farm families.

Mano a Mano’s water reservoir in Laguna Sulti, Bolivia – March 2024

Pictures from the Construction and Dedication of the Wirkini Water Reservoir (2016)

The Wirkini Water Reservoir with about 20 feet of water when it was dedicated – October 2016.
The Wirkini water reservoir full of water, March 2017.
A local woman works on the Wirkini reservoir – almost everybody pitches in!
A woman celebrates the Wirkini reservoir’s completion. The project now provides water to 350 families.
Mano a Mano volunteer Ray Wiedmeyer (left) and Mano a Mano co-founder Segundo Velasquez watch the celebration of Mano a Mano’s water reservoir in Wirkini, October 2016.
The mayor’s speech complete, everyone at the dedication prepares to watch water begin flowing.
Music, food, and dancing followed the ceremony.
Local women celebrate during the dedication of the Wirkini reservoir in October 2016.
The Wirkini Water Reservoir, east of Cochabamba, was dedicated on Oct. 18. It represents four years of Mano a Mano’s work.
A farmer prepares the wheel that controls water flow.
Farmers look on excitedly as water begins flowing at the Wirkini reservoir dedication in October 2016.
Community members who will be helped by the reservoir applaud the water flow.
Mano a Mano works on the Wirkini reservoir.
Mano a Mano works on the path for the water to follow.
Wirkini residents working on the levee wall – adding rocks to prevent soil erosion.
Wirkini residents placing boulders on levee wall to prevent soil erosion.
Mano a Mano staff and community volunteers working side by side on the Wirkini water reservoir (October 2015).
Wirkini water reservoir.
Mano a Mano heavy equipment working on the Wirkini reservoir.
Wirkini water reservoir.
Wirkini reservoir construction, June 2015.
Wirkini reservoir construction, June 2015.
Wirkini reservoir construction, June 2015.
Wirkini water reservoir.
Mano a Mano staff and community volunteers installing tubing at the Wirkini water reservoir project site.
Working on our water reservoir in Wirkini, Bolivia.
Wirkini water reservoir, June 2015.
Wirkini water reservoir, progress from January 2015.
Working on the Wirkini water reservoir project.
Wirkini, Bolivia.

Learn More About Mano a Mano Water Projects

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