Water Supply Project
Guatemala - Río Chixoy
Community Background:
The project is located in Rio Chixoy in the Municipality of San Cristobal Verapaz and Alta Verapaz Department (State) in Guatemala. San Cristobal Verapaz is about 5 hours (80 miles) north of Guatemala City. Rio Chixoy is about 1 hour (15 miles) west of San Cristobal and is immediately adjacent to the Rio Chixoy. In 1985, the Pueblo Viejo Hydroelectric Project was completed, which limits the flow in the river to generate power. In 2020, Rio Chixoy expressed interest in obtaining their own water supply system. In 2022, EWB performed a project Feasibility Investigation. In 2025, EWB-SVB adopted the project for further investigation and implementation. The river loosely follows the border of the Departments of Alta Verapaz and Quiche.
Rio Chixoy has approximately 150 residents in 30 households. The community’s major economic endeavors are agriculture and a gypsum quarry. Rio Chixoy has an estimated 90% of people living in poverty, according to the General Secretariat of Planning and Programming. Rio Chixoy has an elected COCODE (Consejo Comunitario de Desarrollo or Community Development Council), which will act as the Water Board.
The Rio Chixoy Community currently receives water from the Municipality of Chicaman across the river in the Quiche Department. The service is unreliable, often leaving Rio Chixoy without water or water for only an hour or two per day, and the water quality is poor requiring boiling for consumption. A few residents have bottled water delivered for drinking, but most cannot afford water delivery.
Project Objectives:
In 2022, EWB along with the COCODE found what they believed to be a clean water source. The intent of the project is to provide the community with a reliable clean water supply.
The project objectives include:
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Confirm the water source to be reliable, consistent, and clean.
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Create a partnership with the City of San Cristobal Verapaz, the COCODE, our NGO, and EWB.
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Develop design alternatives to bring water to the community.
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Fund, design and build a complete water system from source to user.
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Train the community to operate and maintain the physical infrastructure and treat the water.
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Develop and maintain a relationship with the COCODE and the Community.
Project Scope
Project Adoption, November 2025:
EWB-SBV announces a new water supply project in Rio Chixoy, Guatemala.
Assessment Trip – April 2026:
EWB-SBV Assessment Team travels to Guatemala to evaluate the project and create a path to completion. Major successes of the assessment trip included:
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Water Source Confirmation. We determined the source (natural spring in a small cave) had adequate flow to serve the community and provide for growth to approximately double the number of residents.
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Water Quality Confirmation. Our NGO Liaison and the Mayor of San Cristobal Verapaz convinced the Ministry of Health to perform water quality tests on the water source. The test came back clear of all contaminants.
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Resident Interviews. The Assessment Team visited every household and gathered information on living conditions, water supply reliability, and desire for the project.
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Site Investigation. The Assessment Team walked and drove the route from the source to the community several times to develop alternative alignments and design concepts for the water system, including potential tank/reservoir locations.
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Project Agreement. The Assessment Team obtained a fully endorsed project agreement with cost-sharing terms, signed by the San Cristobal Mayor, President of the COCODE, NGO President, and EWB-SBV.
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Lasting Relationships. The Assessment Team connected with many residents in addition to our NGO and the COCODE, having hiked, traveled, and shared meals.
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Culture and Fun. The Assessment Team managed to work in a little fun, attending a birthday party, helping make a vat of homemade salsa, and catching some local sights.
Special thanks to Sucely Ical, Local NGO; Bruce Binney, EWB Sr PM and Mentor; Ramya Shah, Project Team Leader; Kevin Carter, Project Team Member; Alex Green, Project Team Member.
Next Steps:
The following is a general outline and schedule through project completion:
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Assessment Trip Report. This report outlines the findings in the assessment trip and confirms project feasibility. The report has been submitted to EWB National. June 2026.
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Alternative Analysis. Develop alternative alignments and potential phasing. Design alternatives will be completed at a schematic level to ensure feasibility. Develop rough cost estimates of alternatives. October 2026.
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Select Alternative. Review the alternatives and phasing options with the community to confirm desired options to proceed with construction documents. January 2027.
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Fundraising. Work with EWB National and EWB-SBV Membership to raise sufficient funds for the selected alternative. Now through June 2027.
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Prepare Construction Documents. Prepare plans, specifications, and cost estimate for construction. January through June 2027.
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Construction. Hire a local Construction Manager to obtain bids and manage construction. May through July 2027.
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Build the Project. Depending on the selected alternative and funding, the project should take between 3-6 months to construct. August 2027 through March 2028.