SALEM – working worldwide for peace

The Ecuadorian town of Mindo where our children's and youth center is located does not have a functioning wastewater treatment system. SALEM, like almost the entire village, is connected to a sewage pipe, but mismanagement, ignorance and lack of financial resources have made the municipal sewage-works unusable so that all the waste water is led untreatedly into the river now. A university from Quito found during an inspection that the microbiological load is so high that you should no longer go swimming in the rivers in and around the town.

With the construction of our new youth centre "Maloka" we very quickly agreed with the donors that we had to improve something in this respect. With the new building, the first part of an ecological wastewater treatment system for the whole of SALEM was co-financed: a large worm compost filter (Vermi filter) to which the entire SALEM wastewater system (toilets, kitchen, etc.) will be connected. The activity of compost worms together with beneficial microorganisms decompose organic material and pathogens.

With this filter the black water of two buildings is now already being converted into greywater. Now the connection of the other two buildings and the plant of the second treatment stage, a constructed wetland, are still missing. There, the excess nutrients from the grey water are also filtered. The place has already been reserved, but there is still a lack of financing and hard-working hands.

Cost:

• Connection of the large round house and the office and the therapy room: 1,000 €
• Installation of the constructed wetland with adjoining pond and connection to the sewage system: 1,500 €

If you wish, you can donate to SALEM Ecuador here. Thank you very much for your continuous support!