Water Relief in La Gonave, Haiti

A solar-powered Spectra LB-20,000 Container watermaker was installed to support
the water-stressed community of Anse-à-Galets.

The island of La Gonâve is known as “The Forgotten Haiti” due to extreme
poverty and lack of infrastructure. La Gonâve has suffered from a shortage of safe
water for decades. This shortage was amplified after the catastrophic 2010
earthquake that brought thousands of refugees from the Haitian mainland to the
island. The meager water sources on the island have been severely stressed,
with residents relying on limited rainwater collection and unsafe, often brackish
wells.
The primary water source in La Gonâve's main city of Anse-à-Galets is piped in
from the mountains and distributed to a series of public fountains for residents to
collect. This water is not nearly enough for the city's population and still requires
purification by chlorine tablets before it is potable. Once purified, the water
becomes unsafe for consumption after 2-3 days. The health of the community has
suffered without safe water, and waterborne diseases like Cholera are rampant.
To address this need, a partnership was formed by World Hope
International, GivePower Foundation, and West Indies Self Help (WISH). Together,
they worked to install a Spectra LB-20,000 Container Watermaker that operates
exclusively on solar power. This environmentally-friendly, self-sufficient installation
serves the community of Anse-à-Galets by desalinating seawater and delivering
safe, pure water in both tap and bottle form.
An additional benefit of the project is providing locals with entrepreneurial
opportunities centered around the desalination plant. Micro-distribution
companies have been formed to purchase the fresh water and deliver it
throughout the community.
When COVID-19 arrived in Haiti, the watermaker installation was instrumental
in supporting the La Gonâve Wesleyan Hospital, the only real medical facility on
the island. Clean water allowed WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
standards to be maintained in the hospital - a crucial requirement during a
pandemic crisis.