A team from the Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club has returned from the Ecuadorian Amazon after installing a WallSpring Safe Water System for the Achuar community of Kutsutkao—bringing the village its first reliable source of safe, clean, drinkable water.
The project was funded through a Rotary International Global Grant and made possible by a strong partnership between 5 Rotary clubs in Colorado, California, and Puyo, Ecuador. The system was installed by Rotarians Jean Rissmiller, Teresa Mueller, and John Minier, along with Paul Mueller and Jack Barker, founder and CEO of Innovative Water Technologies™ (IWT).
A team from the Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club has returned from the Ecuadorian Amazon after installing a WallSpring Safe Water System for the Achuar community of Kutsutkao—bringing the village its first reliable source of safe, clean, drinkable water.The project was funded through a Rotary International Global Grant and made possible by a strong partnership between 5 Rotary clubs in Colorado, California, and Puyo, Ecuador. The system was installed by Rotarians Jean Rissmiller, Teresa Mueller, and John Minier, along with Paul Mueller and Jack Barker, founder and CEO of Innovative Water Technologies™ (IWT).
The solar-powered WallSpring system can deliver more than 13,000 gallons of clean water every day. It uses a simple two-step filtration process that removes dirt, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants. The auto-backwashing membrane system is built for long-term use, with a lifespan of 10+ years, a critical feature in remote rainforest environments. Innovative Water Technologies has installed clean-water systems in 38 countries worldwide, bringing life-changing water access to underserved communities.
Upon arrival in Kutsutkao, Ecuador the group was welcomed with a traditional Achuar ceremony. Over the next few days, they worked alongside community members to install the WallSpring system, followed by two additional days of technical training for four Achuar residents who will serve as the village’s long-term water operators.
“The Achuar were eager to learn and deeply invested in caring for the system,” Paul Mueller said. “Their leadership ensures this clean-water solution will last for years to come.” “The Achuar have struggled for generations with serious gastrointestinal illnesses caused by contaminated river water,” said Rotarian John Minier. “This system changes that story. It brings dignity, health, and opportunity.”
Bringing the Gift of Sight
In addition to clean water, the Rotary team brought something else that made an immediate impact; the gift of sight. Working with RestoringVision (restoringvision.org), they set up a small eye clinic and distributed 300 pairs of reader eyeglasses and 100 pairs of sunglasses. For many Achuar adults, this was the first time they had ever received vision correction. “The smiles were unforgettable,” said Rotarian Teresa Mueller. “A simple pair of glasses helped people read and work again, something many had struggled with for years.”
The journey into the Achuar territory required a flight in two small Cessna aircraft from Shell, Ecuador, over dense rainforest into an area accessible only by air or river. The team was welcomed with a traditional Achuar ceremony before beginning two days of installation work and two days of training local operators who will maintain the system. “This project reflects what Rotary does best, uniting partners across borders to improve health and opportunity,” said team leader Jean Rissmiller.
The Rotary team hopes to expand clean water and vision efforts to additional Achuar villages in the future.
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