Caminos de Agua: Organizational Description 

Caminos de Agua’s mission is to create access to clean water with communities at-risk. We work to provide open-source water solutions with communities in our aquifer in Central Mexico, and leverage those solutions for others confronting similar water challenges around the globe. We work in partnership with local communities, leading research institutions, and other diverse actors to innovate and implement water solutions that create adequate access to safe, healthy drinking water supplies. We also train aspiring, socially-responsible engineers, scientists, and other young professionals and interns looking to make social and environmental impacts in their work. Caminos de Agua (Caminos) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the U.S. as well as a Mexican Asociación Civil (A.C.).

In Central Mexico, where Caminos de Agua is based, the majority of drinking water comes from the Alto Río Laja aquifer. Overexploitation of groundwater resources has become widespread, mainly driven by a dramatic increase in irrigated agriculture of water-demanding crops in the past decades. As a result of dropping aquifer levels, contaminants occurring naturally in the deeper layer of the aquifer – such as arsenic and fluoride – are becoming prevalent in the wells that have not run dry. This is linked to a host of health problems, including dental and skeletal fluorosis, developmental disorders in children, skin problems, and even cancer. Around the globe, upwards of 300 million people are affected by arsenic and/or fluoride in their drinking water supplies. 

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Water Quality Coordinator

We are looking to hire a team member to coordinate our Water Quality and Monitoring Program. This Water Quality Coordinator would have to be able to manage day-to-day functions, such as client service, sample management, water quality analysis, coordination of and with laboratories (internal and external). Responsibilities could also include community interaction and/or managing and working on the water quality map: data management, database back-end and data visualization. This person would also promote Caminos' water quality initiatives in order to contribute towards our goal to better understand the regional water situation. 

Since 2012, we have continuously sampled and tested over 500 sites throughout the region, and we work closely with grassroots organizations like United Communities for Life and Water (CUVAPAS) and Pozo Ademado Community Services (SECOPA) to inform rural communities of water quality issues. We collaborate closely with international and national research institutions and Universities to perform and validate these studies. We are moving toward also incorporating other indicators into our monitoring program, including scarcity, historical water access, cost, and community water conflicts; developing a more complete understanding of regional water issues.  

Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Water Quality Coordinator might include (but not be limited to): 

  • Research and strengthen our understanding of water conditions in our region;

  • Sample various locations of the Alto Río Laja Watershed and in surrounding areas;

  • Manage programs and relationships with University partners to work on local water testing initiatives; 

  • Coordinate urban water quality testing, including client services;

  • Perform laboratory analysis in-house, including colorimetry, anodic stripping voltammetry, bacteriological analysis, and others;

  • Explore and implement additional testing needs for existing and emerging contaminants;

  • Coordinate with external laboratories;

  • Analyse and interpret water quality results;

  • Clearly communicate about water quality situation with a variety of stakeholders;

  • Participate in meetings with community organizers and users in matters related to water quality and/or water quality monitoring.


Experience and Qualification Requirements

  • Bachelor’s in science or engineering (preference to individuals with a water background);

  • Fluent in either English or Spanish with working proficiency of the other;

  • Knowledge of laboratory techniques and procedures;

  • Customer service experience;

  • Demonstrated problem solving skills and critical thinking;

  • Data management and basic statistical analysis;

  • Driving license with ability to drive automatic and manual;

  • Dedication to technology development for social justice and the principles by which we work;

  • Be able to work full-time in San Miguel de Allende, GTO.


Additional Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working in the field with rural communities;

  • Experience working in a laboratory setting;

  • Comprehensive understanding of chemistry;

  • Knowledge of electrochemical testing methods;

  • Water testing experience;

  • Coding experience;

  • Public speaking and presentation skills.

 
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