07/19/2026
After eight weeks in Altamira, Bolivia, we’re finally headed home with a completed water system and a community that feels like family now.
This project took us from digging trenches and crossing roads to assembling the manifold, setting tap stands, and installing valve boxes, piece by piece, week by week. We got to paint the tank with community members and travelers before it went up on the stand, leaving our handprints behind as a reminder of everyone who made this happen. In the final week, we finished pressure testing, wrapped up the tap stands, superchlorinated the line, and shared the first drink of water straight from the system we built together. It was such an unreal moment to finally see it all come together.
Beyond the worksite, we spent evenings playing soccer and cards, practicing our Spanish, watching the World Cup with our neighbors, and playing with the kids in the community.
None of this work happens without the people of Altamira, who showed up for us every single day with hard work and hospitality. A huge thank you to our WASH Corps mentors, our masons, and the FIEA and Engineers in Action staff for all the guidance and support along the way. And to The Washington State University Chapter of Engineers in Action and Engineers in Action (EIA) Okanagan, thank you for the incredible teamwork this summer, we learned so much working alongside you both.