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Amazon Explorer
Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink
Apr. 2012 |
The Amazon River regularly spills over its banks, flooding the surrounding forest. This seasonal overflow creates a unique ecosystem that provides life essentials to more than 2.5 million insect species, 40,000 plant species, 2,000 fish species, 1,200 bird species, 420 mammal species, 425 amphibian species, 370 reptile species, and 10 million people! Recently, radically fluctuating flood levels are causing scientists to ponder the impact of global climate chage on this ecosystem. This month the Amazon is set to reach record breaking flood levels and yet even with this abundance of water, there is a scarcity of potable water for its human inhabitants. In this issue we invite you to learn more about the Amazon River, its life giving waters, and how you can help provide drinking water to Amazon villages. |
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Bringing Clean Drinking Water to the Amazon
Balancing precariously in a dugout canoe, a US educator tentatively dips a paddle into the Amazon River, delicately balancing as her tiny boat moves forward, barely skimming the waterline. With each stroke she gains a deeper appreciation for the people of the Amazon and their dependence on this magnificent river.
The Amazon begins as a small trickle high in the Peruvian Andes. This tiny stream meets and merges with other tributaries along its 3,900 mile journey to the Atlantic, gaining in size with each twist and turn. When it finally spills into the ocean, it is over 200 miles wide and has become the world's largest river by volume and possibly the longest. This mighty river accounts for 20% of the earth's fresh water and its flooded forests are home to more than 10% of the world's biodiversity. Viewed from the sky, the Amazon River snakes through an immense swath of green; giving the casual observer the impression that it is a wild and pristine land - unscathed by human endeavors.
Paddling in a dugout canoe past Amazon villages will give you a very different impression. Over 10 million people live in the Amazon and the river serves as their primary source of food, drinking water, and transportation. Sadly, even in the greatest watershed on Earth, most inhabitants drink untreated water and are constantly exposed to a multitude of waterborne illnesses and parasites.
Our partner in Peru, CONAPAC, is helping to rectify this situation - village by Amazon village. Since 2008, CONAPAC has installed 21 community water treatment plants in villages along the Amazon and Napo Rivers. These simple, low impact systems provide as much as 10,000 liters of potable water per day! Through their education and conservation initiatives, CONAPAC is working to secure a sustainable future for the Amazon and the people who call it home. You can read more about these community water treatment systems in CONAPAC's 2011 Year End Report |
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Ask the Expert: Sintia Smith Snyder
Special Projects Coordinator for CONAPAC
Sintia hails from the US, and is currently living in Iquitos and working full time for CONAPAC. A previous Adopt-A-School (AAS) volunteer, she now handles the majority of the responsibilities for AAS; coordinates special projects; and has been a major force behind CONAPAC's community water treatment initiative.
CONAPAC's water program has really taken off. How do you get funding for the projects and then make sure that they are maintained?
Each water treatment plant now costs over $8000. This includes a 30' concrete tower with cement footings; capacity to serve 300 people per day; regular water monitoring and water testing; operator training; yearly outside audit; and community water workshops to educate all stakeholders. We have a few corporate donors, but the majority our funding comes from church groups, small businesses, and individuals like you! Any amount is welcome. When smaller donations are made, we combine them into one water project. As for how we maintain the systems, we made a decision early on that we would only build water plants in communities which participate in our Adopt-A-School program. The AAS communities tend to be well-organized and have the structure necessary to care for and maintain a community improvement such as this. Building a water plant is easy--maintaining and keeping it operational for years to come is quite another matter and a much bigger and more important challenge!
Clean water obviously creates a healthier lifestyle for the people of the Amazon, but what other positive outcomes have you seen from the water treatment plants that were unexpected?
My impression is they're proud to have the system and value it greatly. They know people in the city drink processed water and it's a sign of economic improvement in their lives that they no longer have to take it directly from the river. They also want the best for their children--as all parents do--and know that good health is part of this. My favorite moments are when we inaugurate the water plant, and see the oldest residents (often 70 or more) come forward to sing the praises of clean water and do everything they can to encourage their neighbors to use it. They are often the biggest cheerleader for the consumption of this vital life source.
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What Can You Do?
2. Take it to the classroom.
Elementary: Use the Amazon as a vehicle to explore the water cycle. Check out the Amazon Connections acitivity guide from the Shed Aquarium. The lesson "Rain, Rain Is Here to Stay - The Water Cycle" on page 23 is just what you need to launch a great investigation.
Middle School: Explore the impact of human activity on major river systems including the Amazon with the PBS Rivers of Destiny video and educational resources.
High School: Use the River Educator's Toolkit to create an investigation of the controversial Belo Monte Dam in the Brazilian Amazon.
3. Contribute to what we know about the Amazon River 
Join our  Project Noah Mission "Species Spotlight: Peruvian Amazon" and help us document amazing biodiversity like piranha, river dolphins, walking catfish, and more!
Future, Present and Past Amazon Workshop Participants! Contact Christa if you would like to be involved in creating classroom curriculum materials to support our Species Spotlight mission in the Amazon!
4. Spread the Word! Forward this email to your colleagues, friends, teachers, professors, friends, and family.
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What Are Others Doing?
Engaging Youth to Make a Difference through Project Based Learning
At Exploris Middle School in Raleigh, 8th grade teacher Frank McKay (2011 Amazon Alumni) and his colleagues worked with students and local partners to create a "Global Health Symposium" at a local mall. The goal was twofold: raise awareness about the connection between clean water and global health while engaging students more deeply in science and social studies curriculum.
In preparation, students researched waterborne illnesses in countries where access to clean water most impacts health - including Peru. As part of their project, students interviewed NGO staff to learn firsthand how people are affected and possible solutions. Students then presented their projects at a Crabtree Valley Mall event sponsored by Aveda's Carmen! Carmen! Salon.
Calling all workshop Alumni!
We sure would like to know what YOU are doing!! Are you involved in rainforest studies in your community? at your school? with your students? with your family? Tell us about it so we can put a spotlight on your good work! Send an email to Christa or Frances and let us know what you are up to! |
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We hope you've enjoyed this issue of Amazon Explorer. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Let us know how we can make future editions of Amazon Explorer even better.
Sincerely,
Amazon Rainforest Workshops Team
© 2012 Environmental Expeditions |
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BREAKING NEWS:
Piranha Spotting!
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in the Amazon |
We've launched a mission in the Amazon and need your help! You (and your students) can join our citizen science project to create a virtual field guide to the biodiversity in the areas we visit. The piranha above is just one of our recent spottings!
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| Join us in the Amazon! |  |
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Are you an Amazon Alumnus?  | | Have you participated in an Amazon Rainforest Workshop? If so, you can join Amazon Workshop Online and access classroom resources, timely news, participate in forum discussions, build partnerships with other Amazon Alumni, and more. If you aren't already a member, join today! |
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