Machacamarca, Bolivia
Machacamarca is a rural farming community in Bolivia, located approximately 150 km from La Paz. Home to about 170 residents, the community has a small water distribution system but continues to face challenges with access to safe, reliable sanitation.
Project Overview
EWB Yale has taken over a sanitation project originally initiated by the University of Tulsa in collaboration with Engineers in Action (EIA) Bolivia. Working closely with EIA Bolivia and community members, the team is building on these earlier efforts to develop a sustainable, affordable, and maintainable latrine system for Machacamarca.
Many of the community’s latrines were constructed nearly two decades ago and have deteriorated due to poor design and lack of maintenance. As a result, existing sanitation infrastructure no longer meets the community’s needs.
Through this partnership, the team is evaluating design options, incorporating community feedback, and establishing a long-term implementation and maintenance plan. The goal is to support improved sanitation access while creating a system that can be maintained and sustained by the community over time.