Free Flow

Water Education and Institutional Development
Water and Sewerage, the Water and Sewerage Corporation of Santo
Domingo, the Water and Sewerage Corporation of Santiago, and the
Water and Sewerage Corporation of La Romana. A key success of
the programme has been the creation of educational guidelines on
water that are used in schools from the first to the eighth grade. The
programme has also implemented the Water Quality Watcher project
which integrates civil society in the gathering of physical, chemical
and bacteriological information on water quality. The programme
organizes lectures in different communities and has a Hall of Water
Culture that is visited by many students.
Water cooperation and education results
Some key results from this process have been:
• the organization of all 89,000 users into 32 water users’
associations
• a reduction of conflicts over the use of water
due to better organization and increased administrative capacity
• increases in distribution efficiency
• a contribution to a democratic culture in rural areas
• increased recovery of maintenance costs from an average
of 17 per cent when the systems were administered by the
Government, to an average of 80 per cent now that it is
administered by water users’ associations
• the construction of new water infrastructure and improvement
of some of the existing infrastructure.
As a result of all these efforts in DR the irrigated lands, which represent
11 per cent of agricultural land, now produce 60 per cent of agriculture
production. The country is producing more than 80 per cent of the food
needed to feed its own population and more than 4 million tourists
every year. This has contributed to reducing poverty and improving
the health of the population with better access to food at a lower price.
One of the most interesting institutions involved in water cooperation,
sustainability and poverty eradication in DR is the San Jose de
Ocoa Development Association (ADESJO). This non-governmental
organization was founded by father Jose Luis Quinn from Canada in the
1970s and it operates in the San Jose province located in the south part
of the country’s Central Mountain area. The success of ADESJO centres
on people involvement and horizontal cooperation among intended
beneficiaries. ADESJO has promoted a strong community involvement
in its own development process. In each of the 83 communities in San
Jose de Ocoa, it has promoted the creation of a Community Board that
is in charge of planning and coordinating community development
projects. It also has specialized committees on irrigation, reforestation,
forest monitoring, producer associations and women’s associations. All
of these committees do voluntary work in community projects and in
the plot of each farmer through a rotatory scheme. The philosophy that
promotes ADESJO is self reliance and mutual help.
Lessons learned and challenges
The lessons learned are that cooperation is key component for water
development success: cooperation between north and south, south and
south, country cooperation and above all, horizontal cooperation at
the community level. People involvement at all stages of the development
process through an interactive approach can create a better
understanding of the problem and more commitment to contributing
to the solution. True development requires an extended commitment to
develop a self-management culture that allows individuals and communities
to take action on their own. Los Martinez and other projects
sponsored by ADESJO are a good example. ADESJO has
been accompanying these communities for 40 years.
Today, the leaders in the 83 communities are the sons
and daughters of the founders of the first organizations
and they will pass this responsibility to their own children.
While there have been notable successes, many problems
remain unsolved. There is a need to reduce the
waste of water. Irrigation efficiency must increase from
its current 25 per cent, and there is a need to reduce
the 50 per cent water loss from aqueducts in most
major cities. The sources and quality of water must
be preserved. Most basins are facing deforestation and
contamination with pesticides and untreated water.
And people need to be conscious of the real economic
value of water and willing to pay for it.
Case study: Los Martinez
Agricultural production covers almost 41 ha, with landowners
sharing their land in return for access to an irrigation system
Los Martinez is an interesting example of community
development. It was founded in the early 1900s, 15 km away
from San Jose de Ocoa at an altitude of 400-900 metres
above sea level. Until 1980 it suffered extreme poverty with
an unemployment rate of about 50 per cent and high levels of
illiteracy. Housing was often inadequate and most people did
not own any land, or the land was unsuitable for agriculture
due to steep slopes. The community did not have roads,
schools or health facilities. Most people made a living from
migratory agriculture and wood coal production – resulting in the
deforestation and soil degradation of 80 per cent of the land.
With the help of ADESJO the community organized a
farmers’ association called ‘La Vencedora’ (The Winner);
a women’s association called La Nueva Esperanza (The
New Hope); a community board, an irrigation committee, a
reforestation committee, a forest monitoring committee and
an association of Fathers and Friends of the School.
Much has been accomplished by the Los Martinez
community, which comprises 47 families and approximately
235 inhabitants. They initiated a ‘Private Agrarian Reform’ that
extended to other communities in San Jose de Ocoa. Those
who have land share up to 50 per cent of it with those who do
not. In return, they receive access to an irrigation system that
makes their land more productive and profitable. In addition,
the community now has a school, health centre, aqueduct, new
houses for the poorest people, a soil conservation programme,
a fruit tree planting programme, a small fish farm, a mini
hydroelectric centre that generates 15 KW and provides every
home with energy 24 hours a day for US$2.5 per month, a
small honey production farm for women, an Internet centre
and full employment.
Image: José Del Carmen Cabrera
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