Colegio Pomasqui:
Pilot project in Pomasqui near Quito, Ecuador

Pomasqui lies on the northern edge of Quito, the capital city of Ecuador with its million inhabitants, at around 2600 meters above sea level in a dry valley of the Inner Andes with a steppe-like climate. Securing the supply of clean drinking water is one of the greatest challenges Quito faces for the future, because on the one hand more and more fresh water reservoirs are melting away with the glaciers, while on the other hand there are no waste water treatment plant anywhere in the entire northern part of Ecuador.

Current situation

The Colegio Pomasqui is a public school for around 1000 pupils located in the center of Pomasqui. It currently has basic sanitary services with five toilets for girls and seven for boys. This, however, is by far insufficient to meet the needs of the rapidly growing numbers of pupils. Waste water flows untreated into the Monjas River, which years ago was the Pomasqui's main watercourse. Around ten liters of drinking water are currently used for each flush.

Planned activities

Geberit would like to work together with the foundation SEMBRES to implement forward-thinking and eco-efficient solutions in the area of sanitary installations. The areas of particular focus include water savings, water recycling and water treatment. In addition, special emphasis is placed on sensitizing people to environmental aspects.

Expansion of the sanitary installations at Colegio Pomasqui

Construction of a new restroom building with solar-powered hot-water
Installation of sufficient toilets, urinals and washbasins for daily hygiene
Construction of a reed sewage plant to purify waste water and protect drinking-water resources

Sensitization, education and further training

Education and continued training of the pupils in the daily usage of the new sanitary installations, including hygiene education in cooperation with local health inspection officials
Compilation and printing of information materials and information boards
Integration in existing environmental educational trail

Partners

The Ecuadorian foundation Fundación Sembrar Esperanza, or SEMBRES for short (Sembrar Esperanza means "sowing hope"), which is financed mainly by the Swiss organization Pro Pomasqui, has been working since 1993 in region of Pomasqui near Quito, Ecuador. The goal of all of its activities is the increased implementation of sustainability principles in the region.