Water Security
Water is Life
Access to clean water is a core human right, and yet many places all over the world are experiencing a growing water crisis. Here in Puerto Rico, many people face the perennial challenge of water insecurity, especially in the wake of natural disasters such as earthquakes and increasingly strong hurricanes.
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This is a result of unmonitored facilities and testing, cross-contamination with the sewer systems, and unregulated landfills that contaminate drinking sources. Drinking unsafe, contaminated water has many health repercussions, including an increased risk of gastrointestinal illnesses, nervous system or reproductive effects, and chronic diseases such as cancer.
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When a person is without water, they are more likely to experience a decrease in mental health, and everyday tasks such as cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and personal hygiene become impossible. The fragile infrastructure of Puerto Rico’s single water agency threatens the accessibility and reliability of safe water and sanitation to communities all over the island.
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Periods of drought have already resulted in water rationing in Puerto Rico, while the passing of storms have further polluted the island's natural water reserves due to landslides and soil erosion. Passive and active rainwater catchment technologies can both help mitigate water during storms and offer families a back-up water resource for disruptions of service that come following storms or drought periods.
Through passive and active rainwater collection and filtration, Plenitud PR aims to help our neighbors and communities increase their water security and maintain access to clean, drinkable water - no matter what.
How Does our Program Work?
Rainwater harvesting and filtration are simple, affordable technologies that have the potential to save lives, especially after a crisis or natural disaster. Through training workshops, free and reduced-cost installations, and educational materials, Plenitud PR aims to both raise awareness of this technology as a sustainable solution to the water crisis, and provide these systems for those who need them most.
Our Impact
73
rainwater harvesting systems installed in homes and community spaces in Las Marías
3,312+
community members who benefit from rainwater harvesting projects
1,383+
student participants trained under the Agua Segura educational programming
Infinite
supply of life’s essential renewable resource for our community
Be part of the solution to water insecurity in Puerto Rico!
Your gift of:
$25 provides a household water filter for emergency needs
$250 provides and installs a 55-gallon rain barrel for a local home
$100/month as a Plenitud Sustainer provides and installs a 500-gallon, gravity-fed, first-flush collection and filtration system for a local family, which means long-term water security
