Completing the Cycle of Health in Panimaquip, GuatemalaA Partnership Between the Rotary Club of Lake Atitlán & Your Club

Andy Karp
4 days ago
2 min read

Completing the Cycle of Health in Panimaquip, Guatemala

A Partnership Between the Rotary Club of Lake Atitlán & Your Club

These children will benefit greatly from their village’s rehabilitated water supply. We must now ensure that this water leads to health, not the spread of disease. (Photo: Angelina Capozzi)

The Mission: To expand and improve the very limited existing wastewater systems for 407 families in Panimaquip, San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala.

The Sanitation Paradox

The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that sanitation investments are often more cost-effective than water for improving community health. The San Lucas Mission, the municipality of San Lucas, and most importantly, the citizens of Panimaquip have successfully rehabilitated their potable water system. Agua del Pueblo (The People’s Water AdP) designed the system. But more water generates more wastewater. Without a managed system, this success will create a new public health crisis, as greywater and sewage will soon flow through the same revitalized streets.

A History of Resilience: 1970 to Today

The story of Panimaquip is a 50-year journey of international partnership:

1970: A significant localized earthquake on the Atitlan Volcano caused the community’s only water source, a spring, to dry up.
1972: Residents relied on fire truck deliveries provided by the San Lucas Mission. Monsignor Greg Schaffer (R.I.P.) invited young engineers from Texas, Stanford, Harvard, and Cornell to help, leading to the birth of Agua del Pueblo (The People’s Water).
1973: Agua del Pueblo’s first major project pumped water from Lake Atitlán, 9km away, allowing 150 families of the Pampojila plantation to move onto their own land.
2005: Hurricane Stan devastated the infrastructure. For 20 years, only the most prosperous families with rooftop tanks had reliable access.

2026: A Dream Realized

Earlier this year, the San Lucas Mission, in partnership with the local municipality and AdP, celebrated the inauguration of a rehabilitated water system.

*The community celebrates the return of reliable, piped water for every home. (Photo: Clint White)*

The Project: A National Pilot for Guatemala

Panimaquip is a dense community of 407 families. In the "semi-downtown" areas, traditional latrines cannot be installed.

Our Three-Pronged Solution:

Ventilated Improved Latrines (VIP): Upgrading all existing latrines to meet modern health and odor-control standards.
Bi: Strategically placed plants for clusters of homes where topography permits.
Condominial Sewers (The Innovation): We are proposing a first-of-its-kind "Condominial" sewer system as a pilot project for rural Guatemala. By routing pipes through yards rather than deep under main roads, we provide high-quality sewage services at a fraction of the cost.

Strategic Funding: We Need a Lead Rotary Club

The total project will cost up to $70,000.We have several past donors and Rotary Clubs ready to help, but to unlock Rotary International Global Grant funds, we are seeking a Lead Rotary Club to champion this application.

Watch the Project Video (4 mins): https://youtu.be/_nqlyxzTVkw
A Call to Visit: The best way to understand the impact is to see it firsthand. We invite you to our 2027 Annual Summit in San Lucas Tolimán.