A newly built residential water tank with the funding from Zijin-Rio Blanco company
Last weekend, 150 families residing in Piura of Northern Peru realized the long-awaited dream of having water for human consumption. The project was accomplished thanks to the strategic alliance between the company of Zijin Mining-Rio Blanco and the residents of the Miraflores El Bicentenario Housing Association from its impacted community area.
For more than five years before, those residents had to pay 25 soles (approximately US$6.6) for water tanks that only lasted three days each time, and even in the middle of the pandemic, the per-family cost rose to 75 soles, a situation that forced them and Association to knock on doors to complete the project that they started only with the drilling of a well.
Apart from a lack of elevated tank, the associated service booth and automated pumping system were not in place owing to financial shortage at the community. After dialogue sessions and agreements with community leaders, the decision was taken and Zijin Mining-Rio Blanco company assumed the work of completing the water tank project.
Zijin - Rio Blanco aims to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable population.
For this project, Rio Blanco company supported the construction of the elevated tank, the house and the pumping system that brings water for human consumption to the families.
“One of our main objectives is to generate wellbeing and to take water resources to where our community people need. we want to contribute and understand that water is an important resource for us. As a project we join this effort with the board of directors to comply with this initiative that was given in May,” said Mr. Wilhar Castro, who is Social Manager from the Zijin Mining-Rio Blanco company.
150 community families see the dream come true of having fresh water in their homes.
The tank has a storage capacity of 11,100 liters of water that is pumped from a well and reaches each of the homes of 150 families. A majority of those families are from the areas of Huancabamba and Ayabaca, where Rio Blanco copper mine is located.
“This water project benefits people from the territories where Rio Blanco project is located. This is an important issue because it seeks to show how serious and socially responsible Zijin Mining is and how it can contribute to the well-being of people”, the Rio Blanco company stated.
Piura is one of the Peruvian cities which witness the largest cases of heat stroke in children. Today this scenario has been changed for community families, as they already have fresh water for human consumption.
“This water system represents a transcendental change for our community. We now have an efficient service that will improve our quality of life. Thanks to the Zijin-Rio Blanco company for its commitment and unconditional support,” said Gregorio Chinguel, president of the Association.
Statistics show that only 13% of Piura's population has access to public water service.
The project is yet another example of how collaboration between the private sector and communities can generate great benefits, strengthening relationships and promoting local development.
A total of eleven local media outlets in Piura have praised the Zijin-Rio Blanco company for such a generous contribution to the communities from its impact areas.