The Jocotán water system consists of three tanks - two that are actively used and one on reserve for storage. Water enters the system at approximately 44 liters per second and comes from over 8 kilometers away. They used to have water 24 hours per day, but the technician explained that population increases and drying up of the water sources means they now have to ration the water, especially in the summer. During these periods residents of Jocotán receive water for only five hours per day (from 10am until 3pm), and use their own rooftop storage tanks to collect enough to use until the next day. Although they sometimes treat the system with chlorine, we were told this was not currently being done because during this time of year the water is more turbid and the chlorine was therefore not effective.
By touring the treatment facilities in Guatemala City and Jocotán, we are hoping to get a more complete picture of water treatment in Guatemala, and to get a better sense of what is even possible as we collaborate with the local rural communities. If the more urban areas cannot provide continuous access to chlorinated water, is it appropriate to expect and design for this level of service in the nearby rural communities?