The EWB Denver Professionals have a long relationship with communities in the mountainous Cotopaxi Province of Ecuador, through an extensive partnership with the NGO Centro Educativo La Minga. Denver Professional Chapter began its commitment to help with water projects in Malingua Pamba and surrounding communities in June 2006. This commitment has continued to the present day. Since 2006, EWB teams have visited Malingua Pamba and surrounding communities over 30 times. By combining the engineering expertise of EWB along with the mingas (volunteer labor) for which the Quechua are famous, multiple projects have been completed or are in process.
Currently, the EWB Denver Professionals are currently working in the community of Anchitonduluquin (Anchi). Anchi is located in the same river valley as Malingua Pamba, the original community we partnered with in Ecuador.
Project Overview – Anchi Potable Water
EWB Denver Professional Chapter members first visited the community of Anchitonduluquin (Anchi) in 2022 while working in a neighboring village. The Denver Chapter began design work on a potable water system for Anchi in 2025, and construction on the system commenced in 2026. The Anchi potable water system will capture the water in a high mountain spring and deliver that water to individual households through a network of pipes and tanks. The Anchi potable water system, when completed, will provide potable water to 20 households and approximately 100 people. The community previously was only partially served by an aged, leaky water system that did not provide everyday reliable water. The EWB Denver Chapter provides the technical expertise to design the new water system and much of the funding for construction materials. The community provides a portion of the funds for construction materials and most of the labor to construct the system. Please donate to help with this valuable work.
Past Projects
Malingua Pamba-Quinta Tunguiche Potable Water
The first project completed was a potable water project that serves about 100 households from Malingua Pamba at the high end (10,800 feet) to Quinta Tunguiche, a nearby village, at the low end (10,000 feet). The project was completed in 2009. The system has been run since 2009 by a Water Board made up of community members. It has been well-run, with needed repairs and improvements directed by the Water Board, paid for by community member dues, and completed using minga volunteer labor.
Quinta Tunguiche Irrigation Water
There was an irrigation system that served Quinta Tunguiche and parts of neighboring villages when EWB first visited the area in 2006. However, the irrigation system did not work well and was plagued by leaks and service interruptions. EWB helped the villagers improve their irrigation system from 2009 to 2012, but problems still remained. A more comprehensive irrigation project was conceived of and designed in 2014 and 2015. This system, completed in 2018, serves 56 users and provides irrigation water to the users on a schedule defined by the Irrigation Water Board. The irrigation project is a success, with the users enjoying increased yields on their croplands. The Quinta Tunguiche irrigation water system was funded through a partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Grand County, Colorado and Latacunga, Ecuador.
Guantugloma Potable Water
Guantugloma is another neighboring village at higher elevation than Malingua Pamba (at 11,700 feet). Work on the potable water system in Guantugloma began in 2013 and was completed in 2018. The system serves about 400 people in 56 households. The system is fairly complex, with one 10,000-liter storage tank, fourteen 2,000-liter pressure break tanks, and over 8,000 meters of piping. The system is successfully run by the Water Board, made up of community members. The Guantugloma potable water system was funded through a partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Aurora, Colorado and Latacunga, Ecuador.
Malingua Pamba Sanitary Sewer
A sanitary sewer system was designed and constructed to serve the schools in Malingua Pamba and multiple houses near the village center. The design began in 2018 and construction was completed in 2019. The sanitary sewer system greatly improves the management of sanitary waste in this area. The Malingua Pamba sanitary sewer system was funded by the Rotary Club of Grand County, Colorado.
Samilpamba Potable Water
Samilpamba is another village in the region in which the chapter has long been working, higher in elevation than the others at about 12,000 feet. Work on the Samilpamba potable water system began in 2018 and was completed in 2022. The system serves about 200 people in 26 households. The system is successfully run by the community’s Water Board, made up of community members. The Samilpamba potable water system was funded through donations to EWB Denver Professional Chapter and to Centro Educativo La Minga.
