The Filthy Water She Drank Made Her Sick!

Ten-year-old Cindy lives with her parents and a younger brother high in the Andes mountains of Peru.  Their main source of water is an open-pit cistern that collects rainwater.  The family believes it is unsafe to drink.   

“The water looks clean, but when you drink it, it tastes very strange,” Cindy told us.  

“In rainy season, the cistern gets muddy and is contaminated,” her mother, Betsy, said.  “Then the children get sick with dysentery and vomiting.   

During dry season, or drought, the water in the pit disappears for up to five months.  Cindy and Betsy then have to walk 40 minutes one-way to another water source—which they know is dangerous, too.   

“When the water runs out,” Cindy said, “we have no choice but to drink contaminated water which looks yellow and smells bad.” 

Her mother agreed.  “Sometimes the water is also cloudy and dirty.  When I cook rice its turns yellow.”  

Betsy is concerned about her children’s health.  

“When my daughter drank the water, sometimes she got sick. We live far from a clinic so I didn’t know what to do.”        

“I had bad stomach cramps, a headache, and diarrhea,” Cindy lamented.  “I felt awful.

“Then, Operation Blessing came and built a community water project.  Thanks to YOU, we set up a reservoir and a large capacity storage tank to collect and treat the water.  Then we added a distribution system of pipes to bring clean water to all 61 families in the community!    

Betsy is extremely grateful.  “We are happy because the water now comes to our home!  We can use it to cook and prepare food, and even to wash clothes.”  

“I am very happy because now we have clean water to drink!” Cindy said excitedly.   I am very thankful to all the people who made this possible. Thank you!