Experiences from the Field: Building a Water Distribution System in Rural Honduras

Ethan LaRochelleNortheastern University Engineers Without Borders

Building a Better World, One Community at a Time

Travel and Lodging

• Travel with Americans Caring Teaching and Sharing (ACTS)

• Accommodations• Local guides• Communication

With water everything is possible.

Without water nothing is possible.~Dean Seibert, M.D. ACTS

EWB by the Numbers

• 2001: EWB-USA founded

• 300 chapters• 12,000 members• 280 Projects in over

40 countries

• 2004: EWB-NEU founded

• 2005: EWB-NEU travels on first trip

• 5 successful trips• 118: Population of

Los Planes

Los Planes: Spring 2006The Assessment

• Main water source from a stream 15 min. away

• A few houses receive a trickle for about 1 hour each day

• Both sources contaminated with coliforms

Los Planes: Spring 2006The Assessment

• Water sample testing• Traditional surveying

works well for elevations– Establish benchmark

• Sub-meter accurate GPS is quick – Don’t rely on elevations

Los Planes: Spring 2006The Assessment

• On average 6 people live in each home

• Villagers report going without food 2-3 days a week

• Very little variety in diet

• Malnutrition is a major problem

Los Planes: Winter 2007ACTS Assessment Follow-up

• Keily Marisela Vieda 19mo female 14lbs.– Diagnosed with severe malnutrition, poor

growth, language delay and lower extremity flaccidity

• Many Villagers in poor health

• Report if they had more reliable water source they could grow a variety of vegetables

Main Pipeline

Where We Need to Go

Overall Feasibility

Profile View

Elevation: 2836 ft354 ft elevation difference

4.5 gpm,1.5” PVC, C = 80

Hazen-Williams headloss 55 ftWater Source: 4.5 gallons per minute

20 year demand projection: 5,645 gallons per day

Diurnal demand cycle

Los Planes: 2482 ft

System Diagram

Suspension Design

• 1.5” galvanized iron water pipe

• 5 mm steel cable (4,000 lb strength)

• 1.5” galvanized iron pipe for columns

• Concrete/soil footings

• Steel cable stirrups (calculated lengths)

Design Process

• Excel Hazen-Williams water flow model• Multi-phase implementation• Phase 1

– Transmission pipe– Suspension river crossings– Break pressure tanks– Community tap stand

• Phase 2– Reservoir Tank– Distribution Network

Los Planes: Spring 2007Phase 1 Implementation

Los Planes: Spring 2007Phase 1 Implementation

Constructing a Bridge

Los Planes: Spring 2007Phase 1 Implementation

Los Planes: December 2007Phase 2 Implementation

Recap of Implementations

• Phase 1 (Spring 2007)– Transmission pipe– Suspension river crossings (1of 2)– Break pressure tanks– Community tap stand

• Phase 2 (December 2007)– Suspension river crossings (2of 2)

• And “Blip”

– Reservoir Tank (Finalize location)– Distribution Network (Acquired materials)– Disinfected Line– Assessed previous work

Los Planes: Spring 2008Phase 2b Implementation

Los Planes: Spring 2008Phase 2b Implementation

Los Planes: Spring 2008Phase 2b Implementation

Education

Los Planes: Spring 2008Phase 2b Implementation

Important Lessons Learned

• Consider arriving on a Thursday to allow shopping on Friday.

• Allow twice as much time as you think you'll need for everything. Allow more if the task involves conversation or other human interactions.

• Have another person check your work or calculations, especially if it is after 10:00 pm or before 6:00 AM.

• Bring large format pictures and drawings to show at the “kick off” meetings.

• Make lists of things to do and bring the night before.

• The most focused and productive meetings can occur while driving on bumpy roads before sunrise.

• The villagers are resourceful. And don’t need to be micromanaged.

• Use designs that feature easy construction.

• Always bring the PVC saw, duct tape, string and rope. The tree vice was crucial for working with GI

Do Not Touch Animals

Work With What You Have

Additional Lessons Learned

• Don’t touch geckos, they may be scorpions.

• Avoid eye damage – wear sunglasses when riding in the back of the truck. Insects hurt at high velocities.

• Bolt cutters cut bolts, not cable.

• Buy more vegetables and canned fruit. Eat more vegetables and canned fruit.

• Always bring toilet paper in the field – Lempiras are not as absorbent.

Paying For It All

• All trips are paid for through fundraising• Average cost is $10,000-15,000 depending on

size and type of trip• 50% is usually dedicated to airfare

Fundraising• Donations

– Engineering Companies– Grants– Family and Friends

CIVILized Solutions

Smurfit-Stone Container Co.

Questions?• Contact Information

– Ethan LaRochelle : EthanLaRochelle[AT]gmail[DOT]com

• For more information:– www.ewb.neu.edu

• Pictures and video:– www.ewbneu.smugmug.com

Thank you!