Background
CESPM provides water and wastewater services for Mexicali, Mexicali Valley and San Felipe, Baja California. Water coverage is approaching 100%, but outlying communities like La Ladrillera still lack services, and these communities have become a priority for CESPM.
La Ladrillera is a highly marginalized community characterized by substandard housing, no basic services and the high poverty level of its residents. There is no access to a water distribution or sewer system, and the houses do not have indoor plumbing. Residents rely on hauled water provided by the Municipality, which is stored on-site. Deliveries are scheduled to occur twice a week but may occur only once every ten days. When deliveries are delayed, residents report using water from a nearby irrigation canal, which is unfit for human consumption. Most residents use outhouses or cesspools to dispose of wastewater. Untreated wastewater is a vector for many diseases, creates risks to human health, and can contaminate both groundwater and nearby surface water.
To address this situation, CESPM developed a project to provide water service to La Ladrillera by taking advantage of existing infrastructure in a nearby community. However, providing wastewater service was not feasible because of the municipal wastewater system was too far away.
Project Scope
The project consists of extending the water distribution system from the neighboring community of El Choropo to La Ladrillera and providing onsite biodigesters at each residence to treat wastewater discharges. The main project components are:
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Water distribution system: Installation of a total of 4,635 m (15,200 ft) of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waterlines, including a transmission line running 3,045 m (9,990 ft) from existing water infrastructure in El Choropo. The system will branch into three main distribution lines in La Ladrillera with a total length of 1,590 m (5,210 ft.) and will provide service to the 33 occupied residences and stub-outs at the remaining 12 dwellings. Service will include water meters and three-quarter-inch yard lines.
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On-site wastewater systems: Installation of 33 biodigesters, prefabricated bathrooms and associated plumbing to make the systems fully operational. The prefabricated bathrooms will be placed outside each home, and the water service lines will connect to the prefabricated bathrooms. CESPM has committed to providing semi-annual maintenance of the biodigesters.
Benefits
The project will provide first-time access to a safe and reliable drinking water source for 33 existing households, eliminating the health risks associated with hauled water and on-site storage tanks. Additionally, on-site biodigester will be installed at each residence to treat wastewater discharges, protecting local soil and water resources from potential contamination. An estimated 0.3 lps (6,300 gallons per day) of wastewater will be eliminated in the community. This project will significantly improve daily lives of residents by making it easier for them to meet their drinking water and basic hygiene needs.
