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Agua Para La Vida
Community-Scale Rainwater Capture and Reforestation for Climate Change Resilience
Tikkun Eco Center is building water, food, health and ecological resilience for rural communities by restoring traditional rainwater reservoirs and repairing their surrounding ecosystems.
Restoration Projects
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SAN JOSE DE GRACIA
Start Date: May 2022
Status: Phase 2 complete
Next Phase: Further terracing, completed village water distribution system -
LOS TORRES
Start Date: May 2024
Status: Phase 1 complete
Next Phase: terracing and reforestation
Why We Must Capture the Rain
San Miguel de Allende receives the majority of our water during the short monsoon season. But with climate change, the rains are becoming less reliable, and drought more common.
We are facing a future of severe water crisis.
While we will all feel the effects of climate change, vulnerable rural communities are feeling it first.
Historically, rainwater capture reservoirs have sustained our rural farming communities through the long dry season. However, rural electrification at the end of the 20th century created a new reliance on deep-drilled electric wells.
The rainwater reservoirs were neglected and many were abandoned. Today they are filled with silt, their dams are broken, and they no longer hold enough water to last the dry season.
Meanwhile, for decades our aquifers have been mined and drained for export agriculture, and our deep wells are now running dry. Many are contaminated with toxic levels of arsenic and flouride, causing serious childhood illness in rural communities.
Additionally, in the Rio Laja watershed, we are experiencing desertification through loss of trees to over-development, drought and erosion. This creates a cycle of even more heat and less rain, in what is known as the watershed death spiral.
If we take action, this process of destruction can be reversed.
It all begins with restoring our reservoirs.
AFTER
BEFORE
Tikkun’s Model Ecological Restoration Project
In May 2022, Tikkun restored the abandoned reservoir in our pueblo of San Jose de Gracia, increasing its capacity from 5 million litres to 50 million liters.
After extracting 1400 truckloads of rich soil, we used it for reforestation, planting 1000 native trees and cactus.
We extracted over 200 truckloads of the water hyacinths currently choking the Presa Allende, using them for compost and mulch - making a resource of this invasive plant, and lowering water needs by 50%.
After the reservoir filled, with the captured rain water we were able to irrigate the saplings, and keep them alive and thriving through the following two years of severe, historic drought.
We stocked the new reservoir with tilapia, and installed a solar pumping station to bring water up to the village.
This holistic model of ecological repair and community resilience is replicable and easily scalable. It has garnered the collaborative support of local NGOs, foundations, and the Municipal government of San Miguel.
In 2024, Tikkun is developing two new reservoir projects in the communities of Santa Barbara and Los Torres.
Learn more about this project
Ecological destruction and climate impacts are now driving a global resource crisis leading to water and food insecurity, social conflict, and mass migration.
But there is good news.
The 5 Most Epic Earth Healing Projects video shows, solutions can be implemented to transform semi-arid and arid regions, bringing immediate improvement in human and ecological health, and reversing desertification.
Watch and be inspired!
We can do this on a LARGE scale!
Learn more about restoring the water cycle
