Work continues on Mano a Mano’s current large water reservoir project in Wirkini, Bolivia.
Wirkini Construction Photos From Early August 2014
Mano a Mano heavy equipment working on the Wirkini water reservoir with community residents volunteering alongside.
Mano a Mano heavy equipment working on the Wirkini water reservoir.
Mano a Mano heavy equipment working on the Wirkini water reservoir.
Wirkini Water Project Overview
Construction began in May 2014 and is hoped to be completed around the end of the year. Wirkini is a small community located in the Province of Tiraque, Department of Cochabamba, and is about 12,700 feet above sea level in the Bolivian Altiplano.
Site of the Wirkini reservoir.
The reservoir will provide irrigation water to at least 341 Bolivian farm families in the area and irrigate 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. These water reservoir projects retain water and provide water access year-round, which allows for farmers to grow more and better crops, which in turn increases family nutrition and household incomes. Check out some of Mano a Mano’s other water projects here.
As with all of Mano a Mano projects, the Wirkini water reservoir is a collaboration between many groups; in this case Mano a Mano, the Municipality of Tiraque, and the community of Wirkini. Learn more about our partnership model here.