Quick Scan: Los Manantiales
Quick Scan Report: Los Manantiales
Accompanied by: Claudia & Rosaria (Fundasal)
Date: 12/03/09
Time: 08:30-10:30
Introduction
‘Los Manantiales’ is a group of communities within the municipality of San Salvador, just 1 km out of the outskirts of the city centre. There live about 1481 families, with a total population of 6400 people. With 47% younger then 19 years old, the population living under poverty line is 68% and generate an average income lower then 72$/month. The communities settlements are build on the north slopes of the river Acilhuate. The name of the place ‘los manantiales’ literally means rich source of water, a name given because of the good quality and big quantity of the ground water which comes out of springs. Next to the clean ground water, the municipal is basically the sewer dump of the entire city of San Salvador. Indentified as black water, this waste flow used to be dumped directly in the clean water. The communities were struck by the earthquake of 1986 and experience repetitive floods of the river Acilhaute in the raining season.
Fundasal only works with the most poor and vulnerable people, for this reason the south part of the river bank is not part of the project. We travelled with Fundasal and mainly learned about the responses initiated by Fundasal.
Public space
Fundasal developed a project of new urban settlement (1) 2003-2005 were they worked in revitalizing public space and (ego)liveability by waterprojects. They situated a network for water waste disposal within the communities, dividing the black water from the clean water and leading it to the river. The pipes run under the new public spaces that used to be open canals of black water. Fundasal improved public space, water and sewage systems and roads but did not change the layout of the existing structures and the houses, resulting in interesting open spaces. The primary open spaces of the area were damaged by the earthquake and the floods, and these areas are improved by ingenious solutions. For example an old public swimming pool which was damaged in the earthquake of 1986 and used as a waste dump after. Within the project the government created a football field out of the orthogonal structure. The new public spaces cover the old dump areas, so they follow geology and the old morphology of the houses. These open spaces were secondary, but used primary. For example the clean water swimming pools are formed around the existing boundaries. These pools were crowded on a Thursday morning, showing us that the youth has a place to hang out resulting in strong social relations and use of public space.
The open spaces created around these swimming pools furthermore work as coverage of the sewer system. Most part of the public space is created for the youth: Playgrounds, basketball and football courts, skate parks and the swimming pools. Next to these playgrounds little gardens with sits, basic community centers and washing spots are created. Next to its recreational function the springs also give an opportunity for micro-economic activity. Women provide a little income for themselves by offering washing services.
Due to steep slopes without vegetation the places were prone to landslides. To reduce the risk and protect houses and public spaces from landslides the slopes were covered with a layer of cement.
Family life
On the scale of liveability we had some interesting interviews with inhabitants. We met a woman called Maria Emille Solia at her home with her daughter. Her family consists out of eight people, dogs and pigs. In another visit we saw a whole family working in bakery, with a dog and at least 8 pups. We heard from Claudia that this large family life is very common, were people take care of multiple children and animals (dogs). While Maria also earns money making clothes it is common that only the man works. The children go to school nearby, some part-time and if they work they keep the money for themselves. They buy their food at the market, La Tiendonna, nearby. While for merchandise they go downtown to the center of San Salvador.
Maria lives just next to the river and experienced multiple floods; while the house withdrew the pressure she had situations where she lost all her possessions. The house is build just a few meters form the river. Last year Fundasal build up a concrete river bank which creates a buffer when a flood is coming. At this moment the municipality of San Salvador is building up a block wall on top of the river bank to create even more safety. Behind the wall a canal functions as a buffer, in case of a flood this needs to guide the water back down to the river. We have our doubts about the security, since the wall is only a 10 cm wide and the canal leads in to a small opening in another wall.
For the inhabitants it gives the feeling of more security though, tells Sonia, the community leader.
The work of Fundasal has been on the scale of the urban conditions within the community, especially within the disciplines of water and waste management, public spaces and mitigation and risk management.
On the scale of sustainability there was a mutual desire to see the houses improve, with stronger materials used in the other projects.
Potentiality
After the revision we wanted to summarize the experience in pro’s and cons for the possibilities of the definitive choice of the case study location(s).
Accompanied by: Claudia & Rosaria (Fundasal)
Date: 12/03/09
Time: 08:30-10:30
Introduction
‘Los Manantiales’ is a group of communities within the municipality of San Salvador, just 1 km out of the outskirts of the city centre. There live about 1481 families, with a total population of 6400 people. With 47% younger then 19 years old, the population living under poverty line is 68% and generate an average income lower then 72$/month. The communities settlements are build on the north slopes of the river Acilhuate. The name of the place ‘los manantiales’ literally means rich source of water, a name given because of the good quality and big quantity of the ground water which comes out of springs. Next to the clean ground water, the municipal is basically the sewer dump of the entire city of San Salvador. Indentified as black water, this waste flow used to be dumped directly in the clean water. The communities were struck by the earthquake of 1986 and experience repetitive floods of the river Acilhaute in the raining season.
Fundasal only works with the most poor and vulnerable people, for this reason the south part of the river bank is not part of the project. We travelled with Fundasal and mainly learned about the responses initiated by Fundasal.
Public space
Fundasal developed a project of new urban settlement (1) 2003-2005 were they worked in revitalizing public space and (ego)liveability by waterprojects. They situated a network for water waste disposal within the communities, dividing the black water from the clean water and leading it to the river. The pipes run under the new public spaces that used to be open canals of black water. Fundasal improved public space, water and sewage systems and roads but did not change the layout of the existing structures and the houses, resulting in interesting open spaces. The primary open spaces of the area were damaged by the earthquake and the floods, and these areas are improved by ingenious solutions. For example an old public swimming pool which was damaged in the earthquake of 1986 and used as a waste dump after. Within the project the government created a football field out of the orthogonal structure. The new public spaces cover the old dump areas, so they follow geology and the old morphology of the houses. These open spaces were secondary, but used primary. For example the clean water swimming pools are formed around the existing boundaries. These pools were crowded on a Thursday morning, showing us that the youth has a place to hang out resulting in strong social relations and use of public space.
The open spaces created around these swimming pools furthermore work as coverage of the sewer system. Most part of the public space is created for the youth: Playgrounds, basketball and football courts, skate parks and the swimming pools. Next to these playgrounds little gardens with sits, basic community centers and washing spots are created. Next to its recreational function the springs also give an opportunity for micro-economic activity. Women provide a little income for themselves by offering washing services.
Due to steep slopes without vegetation the places were prone to landslides. To reduce the risk and protect houses and public spaces from landslides the slopes were covered with a layer of cement.
Family life
On the scale of liveability we had some interesting interviews with inhabitants. We met a woman called Maria Emille Solia at her home with her daughter. Her family consists out of eight people, dogs and pigs. In another visit we saw a whole family working in bakery, with a dog and at least 8 pups. We heard from Claudia that this large family life is very common, were people take care of multiple children and animals (dogs). While Maria also earns money making clothes it is common that only the man works. The children go to school nearby, some part-time and if they work they keep the money for themselves. They buy their food at the market, La Tiendonna, nearby. While for merchandise they go downtown to the center of San Salvador.
Maria lives just next to the river and experienced multiple floods; while the house withdrew the pressure she had situations where she lost all her possessions. The house is build just a few meters form the river. Last year Fundasal build up a concrete river bank which creates a buffer when a flood is coming. At this moment the municipality of San Salvador is building up a block wall on top of the river bank to create even more safety. Behind the wall a canal functions as a buffer, in case of a flood this needs to guide the water back down to the river. We have our doubts about the security, since the wall is only a 10 cm wide and the canal leads in to a small opening in another wall.
For the inhabitants it gives the feeling of more security though, tells Sonia, the community leader.
The work of Fundasal has been on the scale of the urban conditions within the community, especially within the disciplines of water and waste management, public spaces and mitigation and risk management.
On the scale of sustainability there was a mutual desire to see the houses improve, with stronger materials used in the other projects.
Potentiality
After the revision we wanted to summarize the experience in pro’s and cons for the possibilities of the definitive choice of the case study location(s).
QS: Los Manantiales
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Comment (1)
March 16, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Nice pools and pipes.
Where to is the blackwater transferred?
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