Colonias Water Project
Colonias Water Project
Agua es vida.
More than 500,000 people live along the Texas-Mexico border in colonias—neighborhoods without basic services like running water, sewer, electricity, or roads.
Families drive for miles to haul water or buy it at the store. They carefully ration water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing. But despite their struggle for water, these families still go to work, take their children to school, and lead their communities.
Running water changes everything. DigDeep is on a mission to get the water flowing in colonias across Texas.
The Project
Finally, running water:
Our work began in Cochran colonia near El Paso, where families have waited more than 30 years for running water.
DigDeep partnered with residents, housing nonprofits, and county officials to innovate a new model for public-private-partnership that brings these basic services to families the first time. We just turned on the taps for the families of Cochran, and this year we’re laying the groundwork for five more communities.
Here’s how it works:
DigDeep uses private funds to build new water lines and help families get access to electric, gas, and trash services. El Paso County assists with planning, engineering, and other costs like road construction.
Here's the best part: once basic services are in place, every home becomes eligible for up to $90,000 in federal housing grants, helping transform a once struggling neighborhood into a vibrant, thriving community.
Using this new model, we've committed to bring running water to 5 more colonias, and we’re not stopping there.
Partnerships
DigDeep's work always begins within the community, where we hold public outreach meetings, hire staff, and build powerful partnerships.
Services
Families finally get clean, running water from a local utility and first-time access to electric, gas, and trash services.
Housing Grants
Once services are in place, our partner AYUDA helps residents access federal grants to upgrade their homes and build new, affordable housing.
Community Space
A special bonus of the Cochran project was helping to build a community playground, designed by residents themselves, for children to gather and thrive.
Give the gift of
clean, running water.
100% of your donation will go directly to the project.
Demanding better
services for decades.
Across the Texas colonias, families haul 5-gallon bottles from water kiosks and rely on costly water deliveries for their basic needs.
Connect with us by email: press@digdeep.org
Built with the support of thousands of individual Americans like you.
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