Frequently Asked Questions

• Evaluating requests received from communities asking for help and making reconnaissance visits to communities.
• Defining the contributions for each party involved in the water & sanitation project.
• Communication with perspective donors for the manufactured materials needed for the project.
• Topographic surveys of appropriate communities and other information gathering for engineering design.
• Design of community water systems and the included reservoirs, pressure breaking tanks, spring collection structures and pump stations.
• Preparation of design reports and other technical reports related to community water systems.
• Purchasing of the pipe and construction materials for project construction.
• General oversight and administration of the water system, latrines, bucket flush toilets, cesspools, septic tanks, or other sanitation facilities.
• Coordination of visits of work teams from supporting churches and other donors to communities.
• During church work team visits we generally stay in the community, work on the water system and hold a vacation Bible school event in the community.
• Health and hygiene teaching before, during and following the construction work.
• Teaching on the biblical principles of development.
• Teaching on water system maintenance, basic accounting and other important skills needed to keep a water system running.
• Health measurement studies to give the community feedback on their level of success and determine the impact of the project.
• Follow-up and checking of previously constructed water systems.

Andes Mountains – In the Andes Mountains more than 50 Quichua Indian communities have built their water systems with our help.

Pacific lowlands – In the Pacific coastal lowlands over 100 wells have been constructed and two communities have built complete water systems.

Ecuadorian Amazon – In the Ecuadorian Amazon region our team works with remote jungle communities. Most are only accessible by single engine planes. Mission Aviation Fellowship provides transportation flying in materials and personnel.

More details and larger map

Funding for the construction materials comes from the government, funding organizations, churches, and interested individuals. More than half of our staff are missionary volunteers who raise their own funding to work with HCJB. Field staff supervising construction are primarily paid by the benefiting communities.

Normally, the benefiting community contributes the labor to build the project, local materials and other resources. They also learn how to protect their water source so it can be free of contamination and pathogens. Building the water system themselves enables them to learn the manual skills necessary to understand and maintain the water system. When the water system is complete, they run the water system, collect user fees and administrate the finances. They are responsible to have a legal recognized junta de agua potable (community water board) before the project begins and possess and necessary water rights.

The communities we select must be willing to do all of the work, provide some of the resources, pay our field staff for their supervision and skilled labor, and provide hospitality for field staff. In addition, they need to have fulfilled the legal requirements mentioned of having water rights and a junta de agua potable. Our goal is to help a limited number of communities willing to make the sacrifices necessary to model the benefits of good hygiene and health infrastructure rather than try to help them all. Generally we choose small rural communities which are not able to receive help from other sources. Many of the communities are of indigenous people of Quichua, Shuar and Chachi background. Where possible, we are also helping government entities to serve rural communities more successfully.

More than 80% of infectious diseases are transmitted by water. Protection of the water source, appropriate sanitation and improved hygiene normally eliminates most of the paths of disease transmission.

It is important that the community take ownership of the project from the beginning. Even though many communities have accentuated economic needs, we do not want to displace what they can do for themselves but rather help them to wisely use their own resources. When they complete the work successfully largely with their resources and leadership, they can properly pride themselves in their accomplishment.

Development is God ordained. In Genesis, God appoints man to both care for the earth and develop its resources. All of our physical needs will be met as we properly understand the plan of God in using the bountiful resources provided for us. The developing third world countries earnestly long for development. As missionaries we must be responsive to felt needs in order to connect with the people we have come to serve. We believe that as we serve people in helping them discover God's plan for development that they will also be led toward a relationship with Him. Christians will be discipled and grow strong as they better understand the plan of God which encompasses every aspect of their lives.

Secondly, God call us as Christians to be responsive to the world's needs, expressing the compassion of Jesus Christ. Jesus left us a strong example of the importance of responding to physical as well as to spiritual needs. The word 'salvation' often used in Scripture refers to both a physical and spiritual healing and restoration in both the Greek and Hebrew languages. If we are concerned about salvation, implicitly we must be concerned about health.

Thirdly. God promises to respond to needy people who cry out to him for water and send us to be his hands in making that provision a reality. The prophet Isaiah tells us, "the poor and homeless are desperate for water. I'm there for them, and I, God of Israel, will not leave them thirsty. Everyone will see this. No one can miss it- unavoidable, indisputable evidence That I, God, personally did this." (Isaiah 41:17) Then Jesus sends us to give a cup of water his name. We are called to bear the character of Jesus Christ to the world around us, responding to this important world need.

Giving - This ministry and our staff rely on hundreds of donors who give generously to meet the needs of this ministry and our personal support needs. Contributions can be made via the web at HCJB's Clean Water Projects donation site , or by contacting us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Prayer - We believe that God answers prayer and directs us as we humbly come before him in prayer. We invite you to pray with us that God would guide this ministry, provide for the needs of rural communities and that he would send workers into this rich field of harvest.

Going - Those who have applicable skills to serve in this ministry are invited to inquire. Civil/environmental engineers with training in water quality/supply, health hygiene teachers, media/computer resource people, well drillers and others with the willingness to endure the rigors of living and working in rustic rural communities would make a great addition to our team. All staff are committed Christians convinced of the importance responding to God's calling, of the importance of His Word and the validity of its message.