Located in northern Guatemala, Coban is a city enchanted by beauty and set with a subtropical climate on the Yucatan peninsula. The Mayans referred to the rain here as "Chipi Chipi." In the past, women often carried heavy buckets of water for long distances to provide basic hygiene and hydration for their families. It was unusual that, despite the moist climate and frequent rains, the people of Coban were constantly trying to secure water for themselves. The increased use of cisterns in recent years have dramatically changed life for residents of Coban.
Cisterns are more or less above ground water tanks with an appearance similar in appearance to the above ground fuel storage tanks. Cisterns have been used for centuries to contain liquids, usually water. The construction aids in catching and storing rainwater. Cisterns range in size, some just holding a few liters of liquids and other storing thousands of cubic meters of water. Cistern filters can also be helpful in the water purification process. One distinguishing factor with regard to cistern use in Coban is that cisterns, outside of Coban, are most commonly used in areas where there is little rainfall or areas where the water supply has been reduced due to heavy consumption.
Cisterns distinguish themselves from water tanks with their removable lid that is made of the same material of the lid. It is essential to have some type of lid for a cistern to function properly. If a lid is left not attached to the cistern, then the water is open to mosquitoes and algae that are drawn to water and often carry disease. There are many maintenances measure that increase the longevity of a given cistern, if closely observed. First, the cistern must be inspected frequently to check for contamination. Second, the cistern must be kept enclosed except when removing water. Finally, the cistern should be emptied and thoroughly cleaned from time to time, as an additional sanity precaution. Using the above regime, will increase the usage of the cistern. Some cisterns sit on houses or nearby. Traditionally, they are made of concrete similar to Northern California precast, Arizona precast concrete, and Sacramento precast concrete; although some countries like Brazil prefer plastic cisterns to the classic concrete models. A well functioning cistern provides 30 to 40 years of fresh water for 10-12 people.
Along with local residents, The Peace Corps and Rotary International are two of a growing number of organizations that have joined united in their commitment to continue increasing the number of cisterns available to the families in Coban. With the cisterns, the level of water available to resident has increased dramatically. This change now affords them the same hydration as the bevy of orchids found in Vivero Verapaz orchid nursery, containing over 35,000 plants from 650 types of orchids and the surrounding landscape that produces some of the most distinctive coffee in the world.
