EWB-Atlanta concluded that the most immediate need of the Cerro Verde Community was reliable access to clean drinking water. The existing water infrastructure in Cerro Verde consists of a communal cistern that was previously filled on a regular basis by the Rocafuerte municipality; however, water delivery is no longer made to the community, and there is no other nearby water source. Since delivery of water from Rocafuerte stopped, drinking water has typically been sourced from local vendors and is supplemented by most households with rainwater catchment.

Design and implement individual Biosand filters for a community of 55 families. The Rocafuerte municipality has long term plans to install a water pipeline to the south of Cerro Verde; while EWB-Atlanta will account for the implementation of such a system in future projects, the scope of the current project is to facilitate in-home drinking water filtration to ensure that the residents of Cerro Verde have access to treated drinking water, regardless of the source.