Co-ops Assemble Water Filters for Bolivia

More than 100 water filters are ready for distribution to homes in a primitive village in Bolivia.

Colorado’s electric cooperatives are sending another international team later this year to build power lines to a village without electricity, this time in South America. In preparation, co-op directors, managers and employees from around the state worked with Wine to Water to assemble this year’s water filters.

The project was part of the Sunday, February 9 annual meeting banquet celebrating CREA’s 75th year of serving as the co-ops’ statewide association.

Wine to Water is a nonprofit organization providing clean water around the globe. The organization digs wells, repairs well equipment and provides water filters in places where clean water is hard to find. CREA has also been dedicated to bringing clean water along with electricity to the Guatemalan communities where it has built power lines with NRECA International. In each village, the team left a water filter with each family.

This year’s filters will be added to buckets once the team is in Bolivia to create a system that will last 10 years.

Wine to Water founder Doc Hendley, also participated in the CREA event, telling the story of how, as a bartender, he launched an organization. He explained how he became passionate about clean water and wanted to do something to make a difference.

Anyone wishing help make a difference by donating to fund these water filters and other humanitarian supplies that will be left behind for Bolivian villagers, can do so through crea.coop. Click on Community Outreach.