By WOMEN FOR BIODIVERSITY ORG
Published on 02/10/2025
In the middle of the dense Chocó jungle, the Emberá community has witnessed a radical change in its quality of life. Until recently, accessing drinking water meant traveling long distances under extreme conditions, with a supply that barely reached 5 liters per person per week, well below the minimum standards of the World Health Organization. Today, thanks to the implementation of the ANDEAN-PHOTOVOLTAIC PROGRAM IN COLOMBIA, the reality is completely different.
Funded by the Honnold Foundation and executed by the Women for Biodiversity Foundation, the project has achieved 82% implementation, consolidating itself as a reference in the use of photovoltaic energy for water supply in indigenous communities. To date, 20 450W solar panels have been installed, with a combined generating capacity of 9 kW, enough to power the hydraulic pumping system and ensure constant access to drinking water for 300 Emberá families.
The impact has been immediate. “Before, I had to walk more than an hour to collect water and often returned with less than necessary,” says María Sántiz, one of the community leaders. “Now, we always have water at home, and my children can go to school without worrying about this.”
Technological innovation at the service of the community
One of the greatest achievements of the program has been the implementation of a solar-powered hydraulic pump, capable of extracting up to 15,000 liters of water per day from an underground source, distributing it through a network of 10 strategic points. Each point has quality sensors that allow the water to be monitored in real time, ensuring that it meets health standards.
“The use of solar panels has been key to ensuring a low-maintenance and highly energy-efficient system,” explains Leydi Mendoza Camargo, project coordinator. “Not only did we reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but we eliminated the need for expensive diesel generators, which were previously the only option for extracting water in the area.”
Training and empowerment: A sustainable legacy
The project has not been limited to infrastructure. 300 indigenous youth have received training in maintenance and management of the water and solar system, allowing them to acquire key technical knowledge for the sustainability of the program. Through theoretical and practical modules, they have learned to operate the distribution network, analyze data from sensors and carry out basic repairs.
One of them is Luis Quirama, 19, who had never had contact with solar technology before. “When I saw the panels installed and learned how to transform sunlight into electricity, I felt like we were entering the future,” he says. “Now I can repair any fault in the system, and I know that my community will never run out of water again.”
The progress of the project has allowed women in the community to reduce the time spent collecting water by 50%, which has had a direct effect on their well-being and participation in other economic and educational activities. In addition, it is expected that with the stability in the supply of drinking water, cases of diarrheal and parasitic diseases will decrease by at least 80% in the coming months.
As the program approaches its final phase, the Emberá community has become a model of self-management and climate resilience, demonstrating that the combination of technological innovation and community leadership can transform realities and guarantee a more just and sustainable future.
