In remote villages of Putumayo, Colombia, where government support is limited, access to clean water remains a persistent challenge, exposing families to waterborne diseases and other health risks. To help close this gap, GTE has led the Water for Communities (Agua de Mi Tierra) initiative, which began in 2024.
Through the Agua de Mi Tierra program, Gran Tierra is installing community water systems designed to bring treated water directly to homes, reflecting a focus on improving access to essential services in its areas of operation. For the first time, safe drinking water will flow consistently to 10 rural communities in the Puerto Vega–Teteyé Corridor of southern Putumayo, providing reliable access for approximately 1,000 families.
Each system begins with an intake structure that gathers water from a nearby natural source. The water then passes through a treatment process that cleans and disinfects it, before being stored and distributed to households, ensuring dependable access for everyday use.
The project was initiated after community leaders requested support for aqueduct systems to address longstanding water quality challenges. The systems will improve overall community health by reducing water-related illnesses. Upon completion in 2026, approximately 5,000 people will have dependable access to safe water. Community members are contributing labour during construction, reinforcing local ownership, and helping prepare residents to manage and maintain the systems independently over time.
Restoring Water Access
Similarly, rural schools in Colombia often face challenges not immediately visible to outsiders. At the Institución Educativa El Cairo, located in San Martín, Cesar the challenge was basic: reliable access to water.
El Cairo serves as the main campus for a dispersed rural school community, where infrastructure is scarce and services have long been fragile. In 2025, when GTE staff visited the area, located adjacent to the Acordionero Forestry Centre, school leaders explained that with the existing gravity-fed system, water would arrive as a trickle, if at all, rendering washrooms unusable and making cleaning difficult.
In response, Gran Tierra installed a pump system to ensure a consistent water supply and distribution across the campus. This simple change created reliable water access in washrooms, cleaning stations, and other high-use areas, while the installation of dedicated stations provided safe drinking water. These combined efforts have restored hygiene and dignity for students and staff.
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