Santa María Celebrates 99 Years with Production Fair and New Water System

Santa María, a community located 40 kilometers from Ascensión de Guarayos in Bolivia, marked its 99th anniversary with a vibrant celebration on Saturday, August 22. The festivities brought together around 1,500 residents and local authorities for a day filled with cultural, productive, and social activities.

The day began with a dawn salute and a religious service, followed by the inauguration of the fourth edition of the productive, artisanal, and gastronomic fair. This event showcased the community's local offerings and traditions.

A key highlight of the celebration was the official delivery of a new water system project, funded entirely by the Inter-American Development Bank (BID). The project, with an investment of approximately 230,000 Bolivian pesos, will take 120 days to complete. "This project will cover 100% of the demand. The current system, which dates back 30 years, only covers 70%, and it is not treated water," explained Rolando Maigua, the community's sub-mayor.

Additionally, the Vice Minister of Water Resources, Irrigation, and Basic Sanitation, Susana Jaramillo, announced the presentation of three projects for water well drilling in neighboring communities. The celebration concluded with a civic parade, reinforcing the community's pride and spirit.

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This project will cover 100% of the demand. The current system, which dates back 30 years, only covers 70%, and it is not treated water.