Water System Repairs After the Panama Earthquake

Requesting URGENT SUPPORT from our donors

Challenge Grant Available: $25,000 Matching Funds

Total Project Cost: $3,000 to $7,000 per community water system

Project Location: Eastern Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé and the mountains of Veraguas, Panama

Project & Program Background

On October 9, 2026, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama, followed by more than 100 aftershocks. Since 2002, WEFTA and its sister organization Waterlines have helped more than 160 indigenous communities in this region build and maintain small gravity-fed water systems. Many of those systems are now damaged.

A generous donor has stepped forward with a $25,000 challenge grant to match donations designated for earthquake-related water system repairs. This opportunity will help WEFTA respond more quickly to urgent community needs while multiplying the impact of every contribution.

Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) Concerns

Communities are reporting cracked spring captures, damaged storage tanks, and broken transmission lines where hillsides gave way. When a spring box or main line fails, families must haul water from unprotected streams, raising the risk of waterborne illness, especially for children. Heavy rains on unstable slopes threaten further damage.

Proposed Projects

Assess: WEFTA circuit riders and water committees document damage and set repair priorities.
Repair: Restore water flow quickly by fixing breaks in lines, spring captures, and tanks.
Rebuild: Replace damaged structures and reroute lines away from unstable ground so systems are more resilient.

Sustainability Considerations

Each community owns and operates its system through a trained water committee. Communities will provide labor and local materials, and WEFTA volunteers will donate engineering expertise and follow-up visits.

Community Engagement

The Water Committee hosts WEFTA during site visits and coordinates local participation. Community members volunteer labor and assist with installation of the distribution system. Their involvement reduces project costs and strengthens ownership of the improved water system.

Challenge Grant Opportunity

A donor has committed $25,000 in matching funds for earthquake recovery efforts. Every dollar donated toward water system repairs will help unlock these matching funds and increase WEFTA’s ability to restore safe drinking water to affected communities.

Because each system is relatively small, a congregation, school, civic group, foundation, or individual donor can often fund an entire community repair project. Matching funds will be applied until the full challenge grant has been met.

How You Can Help

Donate today and designate your gift to Panama Earthquake Water System Repairs. Your gift will be matched through the $25,000 Challenge Grant, doubling the impact of your support and helping communities restore safe, reliable drinking water as quickly as possible.

If you would like additional information about this project, please contact us.