Water for all project 2020 by Atlas Copco Thailand

Ban Mae Ta Maew is a village located in the mountainous and risk area of landslide, mudflow, and a flash flood of Chiang Rai province. The village has 64 households with a total population of 256 including 60 children.  They are Akha, one of the six main hill tribes living in Chiang Rai. In the rainy season, the village has been facing with the rained water running pass through the village, but in the dry season, the lack of water for consumption becomes the major problem. To improve the accessibility of clean drinking water and water consumption, the village committee has been trying to seek other sources of funding. The community received the water filter system funded by one of the government banks. At the same time, the Tambon Sub-district Administrative Organization (TAO) had provided a water tank for water consumption but it is not enough for the whole village. 

However, these two solutions do not address the insufficient supply of available sources. Also, the community people-built check dams to slow the water flow and allow water to seep into underground layers – unfortunately, there is hardly any water in the dry season. The village committee and the community members expressed their concerns and came up with the idea of constructing a concrete tank.

The project aims to improve the accessibility of clean water, WASH facilities and raise awareness on hygiene behaviour among children and community members in Ban Mae Ta Maew. The project will support the construction of a concrete water tank so that the community will be able to access to water consumption. The concrete tank, sized width 4 M x length 8 M x height 2 M, together with a covered cement on the top.   After construction completed, the tank will contain 64,000 litres of water supply.  The community members and children can use water for consumption.  On average, each person uses around 100-200 litres per day.  With the new water tank, it will be enough to respond to everyone's needs.

Atlas Copco (Thailand) Limited and Plan International work with the most-at-risk populations in Thailand, including ethnic minorities, migrant workers, stateless, seafarers, and people living with HIV/AIDS. The approach is to strive for a just world that advances children's rights and equality for girls. Plan International supports children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. The right to education, protection, sanitation, and good hygiene are the key components of the development of children and youth. The project expects that the accessibility of water will be a great benefit to both children and community members.