Water Blogged

School: CEM Adan Bonilla Arellamo 
Location: La Florida, Marcala, La Paz, Honduras
Benefitted Population: 77 students & 6 teachers

*This report has been provided by Cova, an implementing partner of H2O for Life.

Cova will install a water treatment system, ‘Sistema Combinado’ or Combined System in English, to purify the water in the school. This system consists of a two-step process: first, the reduction of water turbidity (cleaning the water so it looks crystal clear), and second, treating the bacteria to ensure it is safe to drink. This system will serve as a mini-water treatment plant, reducing turbidity levels and killing any bacteria in the water. Cova technicians will install this system in collaboration with the students, teaching them how it works and the proper maintenance. Following the installation, the program manager, Oneida Lara has prepared a curriculum for the students for water, sanitation, and hygiene. She will continue visiting the schools monthly and work with the teachers to educate the students on safe drinking.

Cova also has a water quality lab in their office in Marcala and will do testing of the water after the system is installed to ensure the water is safe to drink. The Cova program has a 10-year track record of providing these solutions and ongoing monitoring to schools and communities in Central America.

Performed Activities
The project began with a comprehensive WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) assessment at the school to identify existing gaps and opportunities for improvement. This was followed by a collaborative meeting with the school’s Parents’ Association, during which the Combined System project was presented. As a result, the community committed to constructing the support structure for the water tanks—an essential component of the system. Cova provided technical oversight throughout the construction of the elevated tank platform to ensure quality and safety standards were met. A detailed bill of materials and cost estimate was prepared to guide procurement, and all necessary materials for the Combined System were purchased with attention to both cost-efficiency and timely delivery. Once all components were ready, the water tanks were transported from the Marcala office to the school. With everything in place, the Combined System was successfully installed, significantly improving access to safe water and sanitation at the school. To ensure long-term sustainability, Cova delivered a hands-on training session for school staff and community members, covering system operation and routine maintenance practices.

Thank you to the following for supporting this project!