One Million Rural Cisterns

Original project description

Since 2002, the P1MC’s aim has been to build one million cisterns to collect rain water to provide a sustainable means of overcoming water shortages in semi-arid rural areas. The Brazilian semi-arid region is one of the most populous regions of the world, in which 36 million people have little access to potable water. The cisterns will ensure that five million people will have clean, as well as good quality, water. The cisterns also reduce the loss of water due to evaporation. In addition, they increase the rainwater storage capacity in rural areas, which reduces ground water extraction and so helps to keep the water table high.

P1MC´s innovation lies in the combination of collecting rain water and making it available to communities in rural areas through strong family, communal and civil society engagement. Jointly with the rural communities, P1MC has established a training process aiming to involve one million families in the construction of cisterns to collect rain water.
P1MC also contributes to stimulating the economy. It generates employment and increases the income of the masons, of the young people who make the manual pumps, of the trainers of the families, and of the craftsmen who make the various components of the cisterns’. Furthermore, it has helped to lighten women’s domestic work as a result of which more children attend school. The number of people suffering from diseases due to contaminated water has also decreased.

Current project updates

No update available.

Growth plans description

In 2010:
• The Brazilian Semi-arid Articulation (ASA) expects to expand the number of Management Microregional Units (UGMs) to 65 organisations, training 30 new professionals.
• ASA aims to build 75.000 more cisterns, for 375.000 people.

For 2011:
• Expand to 75 UGMs, with 60 new trained professionals.
• Build 100,000 cisterns, for 500,000 people.

Current Needs

• Contributions to promote, develop and strengthen the processes enhancing communal engagement.
• Financial support for civil society organisations involved directly and indirectly in P1MC.
• Logistical assistance with constructing more cisterns.
• Consultancy on alternative technologies to capture rainwater expanding the project.
• Contributions to the sustainability of ASA.

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