EWB-USA Pittsburgh Professional Chapter

Ecuador Water Project

The Need

The Tingo Pucará community lives without a local, potable water supply. Residents are subsistence farmers who travel over very steep land in order to get water from nearby springs, which are contaminated through contact with animals and waste. Once collected, water is stored in open containers. Consequently, waterborne illness is common and the mortality rate is 30% in children under five. The community requires a water pumping system in order to bring water closer to the users while isolating it from potential contaminants.

EWB-USA Response

Assessment
In 2008, EWB-Pittsburgh began to gather base project data, testing the water sources, mapping the area and completing a health assessment. The needs of the community were discussed and contacts with local suppliers and NGOs were es-tablished. The team returned in 2010 to gather solar, wind, grid energy, and soils data. The team also met a local Peace Corps volunteer and visited other local water systems, many of which had prob-lems the team now knows to avoid. After these assessments, EWB-Pittsburgh was able to move forward on designing ap-propriate solutions for the community.

Rain Catchment
A rain catchment system was implemented in 2009. This was the quickest water centralization response and although it meets only a fraction of the demand, it helped the community while a more elaborate water pumping system was being designed.

Implementation

The EWB-USA Pittsburgh chapters began implementation summer 2011, making two trips: one in May and one in August. Working together with the community, the local PCV, and local, the team was able to complete the intake and sedimentation tank/pumphouse, stake out the pipeline, and nearly complete the storage tank. Shortly after the August trip, the community completed the storage tank.

Moving Forward

With the help of the local Peace Corps volunteer and the NGO, implementation is currently con-tinuing. Still to be completed is pipeline from the bottom of the mountain to the top and an exten-sion of the electrical grid from the top to the bot-tom to power the system. The next trip will con-sist of finishing implementation, focusing on the electrical components of the system. In addition, the team will begin training locals about the sys-tem and introduce the operation and maintenance practices.

Additional information and current project needs can be found at the project’s blog, tingopucaradevelopment.wordpress.com

Project Cost

$51,015(est)

Partner Chapters

Pittsburgh Professional Chapter (PPC)

Carnegie Mellon University

University of Pittsburgh

Makili Fish Farming Project

The Need

There is no steady supply of water in Makili throughout the dry season (December to June) to grow crops. The shallow wells help serve their basic water needs for drinking and washing. The people are hungry and malnutritioned.

The Plan

The people of Makili, with the support of the village chief, wish to construct a village fish farm to be used for year round aquaculture. The site for the proposed project is a seasonal pond that forms each rainy season on the edge of the village. Work will include construction of the ponds using rainwater harvesting techniques, as well as educating the local population on proper aquaculture practices and facility maintenance.
Completion of this project holds the potential to benefit the community by improving health and nutrition and providing a source of supplementary income. Income generated by the sale of fish from the completed project will be deposited in the local bank, and can be reinvested back into the community to finance future projects. It will also provide an excellent opportunity to educate community members about good business practices such as accounting, inventory, and record keeping. This education will also contribute to the sustainability of the project and help ensure long-term success.

The Partners

• EWB University of Pittsburgh Chapter is a group of students volunteering to gain hands-on experience in planning, design and construction of sustainable engineering projects.
• EWB-Pittsburgh Professional Chapter is a group of professionals volunteering with a mission to empower and assist communities to develop appropriate solutions to their immediate needs.
• Peace Corps are volunteers who travel overseas to make real differences in the lives of real people by living and working with them.

For more information on how you can be a part of this exciting project, visit the EWB-Pitt website
http://www.pitt.edu/~sorc/ewb/contact.html

As we move to the implementation phase, the project is desperately seeking funds. You can also help by donating to our chapter.