• Financed in part by a subsidy from the Czech Development Agency and in part from Photon Water’s own resources
• Local partners included Photon Energy Peru S.A.C. and Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann, which is actively involved in treatment technologies in the framework of its research projects

Peru has long-standing issues with the quality, quantity and reliability of its drinking water.

In certain parts of the country, up to 40 per cent of the population has reported a lack of water, while in other areas, residents have been exposed to water that is heavily contaminated. The most harmful and widespread pollutants are the heavy metals like Arsenic and Boron. This contamination is a result of both the volcanic landscape and human activities such as mining, transportation and agriculture.

This has become an increasingly pressing issue, and the regional governments of Peru have begun to actively address it by seeking ways to increase local expertise and infrastructure by seeking partnerships and providing support to organisations with expertise in water purification.

In 2017, Photon Water completed a feasibility study supported and primarily financed by the Czech Development Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The study focused on the design and deployment of small container-based water treatment units to supply municipalities of up to 1,000 inhabitants in the region of Tacna with safe drinking water.

Upon completion of the study, we were awarded a 50 per cent subsidy for the implementation of the project in the Tacna and Cusco regions. Between 2018 and 2020, a total of ten drinking water treatment plants were installed, providing residents with a long-term reliable supply of safe drinking water.

In addition to the installations, a campaign was organized to raise awareness throughout the region about the causes and potential technological solutions to the problem of water contamination, as well as the influence of untreated, contaminated water on human health.

With the successful completion of the project, we have bolstered our expertise in the field of water treatment with a thorough understanding of the region and its specific needs and challenges. This will enable us to build on our progress and continue to deliver tailor-made treatment solutions to other areas of Peru and throughout Latin America.

Czech Development Agency

Water in Peru (project microsite)