Project Description
  | El SalvadorSeptember 2005 Ended: (in progress) Project Managers: Chris Dawson *Eric Tervo *Missy Setz Chris Bareither Leah Kammel Kevin Orner Jonathon Blanchard *current |   |
Also See: El Salvador Travel Blog
The University of Wisconsin-Madison student chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-UW) has been working on a wastewater problem in El Salvador since 2005. The project began when members of the West Bend Rotary Club brought the project idea to EWB-UW in fall 2005. The primary objective of the project is to install a wastewater collection system in the communities of La Granja and Nuevo Ferrocarril. These two communities are situated approximately 10 miles north-west of San Salvador and are inhabited by roughly 2,500 persons. The wastewater problem emanates from the lack of any wastewater infrastructure except pit latrines for individual households. Thus all greywater (i.e., water due to bathing, cooking, and commercial uses) is discharged into the streets and either stagnates in low lying areas or finds its way to a small stream that flows between the two communities. The stagnant pools of wastewater are breeding grounds for bacteria, which are potentially pathogenic to the humans and animals that are exposed to the wastewater daily. The effectiveness of installing the wastewater collection system will be monitored through microbiological and epidemiological studies that are being conducted concurrently with installation.
An initial assessment trip was completed by three students and one faculty mentor during March 2006. This trip focused on forming relationships with the community members of La Granja and Nuevo Ferrocarril, as well as laying the groundwork for how the assistance of EWB-UW could be an asset to their communities. Additionally, key connections were formed with government employees in the municipality of Nejapa, which is a larger nearby city whose jurisdiction resides over La Granja and Nuevo Ferrocarril. Preliminary water testing was also conducted on water from the drinking wells, and this was revealed not to be an issue of concern.
A second assessment trip was completed by three students a year later in April 2007. This trip focused on strengthening relationships with the two communities, members of Nejapa, and Rotary International. West Bend Rotary and Rotary International have become the primary benefactors of the project and both serve a key role in overseeing and aiding in construction processes when members of EWB-UW are not in country.
Implementation of the wastewater collection system began in January 2008. Eleven students, two faculty mentors, and a translator traveled for EWB-UW during this time. Approximately 480 meters of 200-mm-diameter pipe were installed along a 1200 m route that will transmit wastewater collected in the two communities to an existing wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater samples were collected throughout the two communities for bacteria enumeration and pathogen identification. In addition to the engineering and science, a series of educational workshops were conducted by EWB-UW students, teachers, and volunteers from the two communities for the children of the communities. Innovative games were used to teach the children about proper hygiene practices and the transmittance and danger of pathogenic bacteria. Members of the two communities worked alongside EWB-UW students throughout the weeks of implementation to gain a sense of ownership for the future system.
The second implementation trip in January 2009 focused on continuing the construction efforts of the previous year. During this trip, the pipeline to La Granja was completed and construction began within La Granja. Because it would be impossible to finish the implementation in two weeks, a group of community leaders were arranged to complete construction in La Granja while EWB was not in country. With the assistance of the San Salvador Rotary Club and the Nejapa municipal department, they finished approximately 2,800 meters of pipeline and 25 manholes in three months. Currently approximately 40% of the homes (about 800 people) in La Granja are using the system with no reported problems.
In July 2009 four students and one advisor traveled to El Salvador for another assessment trip. This trip focused on an evaluating the functionality of the completed wastewater collection system in La Granja and making a final assessment of the bridge project. Six connected households were interviewed about their use of the system, and all were satisfied and reported no problems during the first few months of operation. The primary tasks completed for the bridge assessment were generating a topographic profile and map of the ravine and land area adjacent to Nuevo Ferrocarril and contacting steel suppliers, fabrication shops, and equipment rental agencies. Several quotes were obtained for bridge fabrication and rentals, and all questions were answered.
During the implementation trip in January 2010 fourteen students and three advisors traveled to El Salvador, the focus of the trip was the installation of the bridge that divides the communities of La Granja and Nuevo Ferrocarril. This bridge not only serves as a crossing for the collection system pipeline between communities, but also as a pedestrian bridge, which should cut down 15 minutes of walking for the children who attend school in Nuevo Ferrocarril. Planning, design, and organization has taken place over the course of one and a half years for the implementation of this portion of the project. On this trip there were four main aspects of the bridge project: abutment construction, wingwall construction, vegetation restoration, and the truss fabrication. Also on this trip, health records were collected from the community of Nuevo Ferrocarril that will be analyzed by the team over the next few years to show increasing community health as the implementation of the collection system occurs. The group conducted a full chemical analysis of the in-place wastewater treatment plant; with these results, design updates will be made this semester to improve the plant’s efficiency. Greywater samples were also collected to continue the on-going microbial concentration water study within the communities. Interactive education workshops were also done and were geared towards hand washing instruction and construction safety. The group is excited to continue working on the project to help improve the quality of life in the communities of Nuevo Ferrocarril and La Granja. Some tasks for this semester include completing the bridge truss fabrication, installing the truss on the in-place abutments, starting the design of the collection system for the second community of Nuevo Ferrocarril, conducting water sample analysis, and creation of new educational workshops.
Fall 2009 El Salvador Team (not all team members present)
