Rotary eClubOne – La Mulita Project

The problem of contaminated drinking water is a serious one in many countries. 

3.4 million people, mostly children, die from water-related diseases each year.  As a result, Water Projects have become one of the major areas of focus for Rotary International.

While there are numerous organizations working to build clean water purification systems in rural and urban areas of the undeveloped world to meet the need for safe drinking water, there exists the issue of making it accessible to the people.

In order to make the purification systems economically sustainable, they are often located in centralized locations in a village community or urban barrio. This means that safe water is available, but not always close to where users of the water live.

Typical containers filled with water weigh 40+ lbs and it often the task of women and children to transport water for family consumption.   Heavy and difficult to carry, water containers can cause long-term health problems for children’s backs and necks. For older people, transportation of water is often beyond their physical ability. 

La Mulita is a practical solution.  It means “Little Mule” in Spanish.    This relatively cheap transportation device makes purified water accessible to families where children and the elderly are required to fetch clean water.

Horacio Morales of Healing Waters in Chiapas Mexico, designed  La Mulita version1.

Horacio saw the problem and came up with a practical solution.   After 6 months of field trials and feedback, we have learned many design and maintenance lessons. As a result, we now have La Mulita, version 2 that is shown in the photograph below.

Rotary eClub One  is investigating possible concept mass production at a reduced cost and weight. This will make water transportation viable. 

The project will probably require manufacturing in one location, and then transporting the major components (wheel assembly, handle and body) to the field for local assembly.   

Rotary eClub One will be seeking participation from industry groups and from other Rotary clubs, to make this project a success.