Kaxinawá Indigenous Lands of the Jordão river and Lower Jordão river

Reactivation of Wells with Solar Energy

In the indigenous lands of the Huni Kuin people in the River Jordão region, where approximately 3,200 people currently live, a serious water issue has been faced for many years. In the entire Acre region, the water from the Jordão and Tarauacá rivers is not drinkable. It has a brownish color, contains fecal coliforms and a series of particles/sediments, which makes it muddy. Water consumption causes illnesses and occasionally deaths, including among young children. At the same time, there are a series of wells (of the Amazonian or ‘cacimbão’ type) that have been excavated, but were later abandoned: either due to lack of water pumping, water storage and/or water distribution.

APOTI provided a solution with sustainable technologies, which gives a greater durability by reducing maintenance and not generating any type of cost after installation, whether financial or environmental. The alternative were the gasoline generators which produce water, air and noise pollution. The high cost of fuel in the region (practically R$ 10.00 per liter of gasoline, this being the most expensive item in the monthly budget of Huni Kuin families) prevents the Huni Kuin from using their wells, and leaves them without access to potable water. Furthermore, this type of equipment requires a series of periodic maintenance to operate, which are not known to the indigenous people.

APOTI used solar pumps, which operate continuously without generating any type of cost to the indigenous people or the forest. Solar pumping is 100% clean, generates little or no maintenance and has excellent results in terms of water pumping flow. See APOTI’s own installations on the Humaitá River and the Igarapé do Caucho Indigenous Land.

Activities: draining and cleaning wells, installing solar pumps and solar panels, building water tank supports, installing water tanks, digging trenches for pipes and installing individual plumbing in residents’ homes.

Benefiting Villages: São Joaquim/Center of Memories, Novo Natal, Novo Segredo and Morada Nova.