“Without water, our people cannot live on the land. With access to water, we can live anywhere.” Andres Chajil – Program Director for Water Projects

The acquisition of land and access to water are primary efforts to which the San Lucas Mission devotes itself in the process of structurally and systemically addressing the root circumstances and causes of poverty.

For the agricultural people that the Maya are, these two elements represent the most important necessities for daily life. Even the practice of gathering water from nearby lakes and streams entailed a very cultural tradition for young men and women.

It is said that the carrying of water and the location of acquiring water were the basis for the courting by young men and women. As the story goes, men could carry on courting out of the view of families at the watering points.

If the young woman accepted a proposal at these sites she would pour her water over the young man and break the clay tenaja and then return home empty handed. The young man returning home “wetted” and the young woman, returning without her tenaja, would be the non verbal indication that the families needed to start marriage negotiations.

Water Distribution Systems:
Through the commitment and hard work of many men and women of the local and international community throughout decades of water projects, the San Lucas Mission has provided access to water for thousands of people and over 15 different communities.

Most of the water source derives from Lake Atitlan, using a gravity-fed distribution system to bring the water as close as possible to the community. In many cases, the water is then brought to the community utilizing a hydro-electric or electric pumping method.

The introduction of potable water systems in homes has reduced the amount of contamination of rivers and streams and reduces the daily work burden of women washing and carrying wet laundry up and down ravine slopes.

Having available water in the home also gives families the opportunity to provide a sustained hygiene education, in turn helping to reduce mortality rates among family members.

Rain Collection and Storage:
Taking advantage of approximately 80 inches of rainfall in the rainy season, the potable-water programming of the San Lucas Mission promotes the capture and storage of rain waters, and works to implement domestic and communal catchment systems in many communities.

Waters collected and stored during the rainy season can drastically assuage shortages suffered throughout the dry season, providing families and communities with a continued access to water.

Traditionally, families have had to spend 3-4 hours per day walking long distances to draw water from streams or lakes. The opportunity to have more immediate access to water has resulted in greater time spent by women and children in more productive activities such as processing food, studying for school, and economic activity for stabilizing family income.

History of San Lucas Mission Water Projects:
The process of securing access to water has survived many challenges throughout the years. Surviving the loss of all spring water sources from the volcano slopes of Toliman and Atitlan following the 1976 earthquakes, as well as the violence and civil breakdown of the 1980’s, the process of providing access to water continues.

It has also survived the many setbacks and unforeseen trials of family and political life, and is testament to the great strength of the Maya communities in the area and their eternal willingness to suffer great losses without losing hope in a better future for their families and for their physical presence on the land.