Methods for the improvement of the water supply in the Chaco of Paraguay

The Chaco of Paraguay, occupying two thirds of the territory of the Republi c of Paraguay, is a region with an extreme subtropical climate, a lack of a modern infrastructure and scarce potable water resources. An ongoing bilat eral co-operation project between Germany and Paraguay has the objective to improving the water supply conditions in the area. This aim is achieved th rough parallel project activities: (a) Investigation of groundwater conditi ons jointly with the Direccion de Recursos Hidricos, at the same time stren gthening the operational capacity of this institution. (b) Development of m ethods for sustained utilisation of the scarce fresh water resources and fo r the protection of groundwater against contamination. (c) Construction of water supply systems applying a simple technology for rural settlements of the native Indian population and the campesinos.