Engineering and Development: Engineering and Development: Good Intentions and Real Solutions Good Intentions and Real Solutions

– Water and Sanitation– Water and Sanitation

Thomas SoerensThomas Soerens

tsoerens@uark.edutsoerens@uark.edu

479-575-2494479-575-2494

Outline Background: what’s the problem?Background: what’s the problem?

Case Studies:Case Studies:• MaldivesMaldives• AmazonAmazon• ChinaChina

Lessons and IssuesLessons and Issues

Background: What’s the problem?

The need for clean waterThe need for clean water• 1.1 1.1 BBillion people on earth lack improved water illion people on earth lack improved water

source (pipe, well, or protected spring). source (pipe, well, or protected spring). – 2.7 billion lack sanitation2.7 billion lack sanitation

• 3.4 million people, mostly children, die each year 3.4 million people, mostly children, die each year from waterborne diseases.from waterborne diseases.

– Twenty 747s full of children per dayTwenty 747s full of children per day

•Millions of people, mostly women, must walk Millions of people, mostly women, must walk for miles and hours to get water.for miles and hours to get water.

Access to sanitation is one of the strongest determinants of child survival: the transition from unimproved to improved sanitation reduces child mortality by a third

Myths, Ironies, Barriers Myth: They develop immunityMyth: They develop immunity

• No they don’t, they die.No they don’t, they die. Myth: They’re happyMyth: They’re happy

• They don’t want their kids to die.They don’t want their kids to die. Irony: High rainfall areas lack clean waterIrony: High rainfall areas lack clean water

• But quantity = quality to a certain degreeBut quantity = quality to a certain degree Irony: Poor people pay more for water Irony: Poor people pay more for water

than rich peoplethan rich people

85% of the richest 20% of the population have 85% of the richest 20% of the population have access to water. Only 25% of the poorest 20% do.access to water. Only 25% of the poorest 20% do.

In many places,the poorest people get less water, In many places,the poorest people get less water, and they also pay some of the world’s highest prices.and they also pay some of the world’s highest prices.

note: $1 per 20 oz bottled water= $1700 per cubic metre= ~ 2000 times cost of tap water

Barriers Barrier: Lack of hygiene knowledgeBarrier: Lack of hygiene knowledge Barrier: Hard to break traditionBarrier: Hard to break tradition Barrier: Entrenched attitudesBarrier: Entrenched attitudes

• institutional and personal cynicisminstitutional and personal cynicism• entitlement, apathy, and dependenceentitlement, apathy, and dependence• suspicionsuspicion

– headhuntersheadhunters

• over respectover respect– this is beyond usthis is beyond us

Possible Solutions - Water WellsWells

• Improved, sealedImproved, sealed• HandpumpsHandpumps• StorageStorage• Unintended consequencesUnintended consequences

– Africa: deforestation, etc.Africa: deforestation, etc.– Bangladesh: Arsenic poisoningBangladesh: Arsenic poisoning

Rainwater CatchmentRainwater Catchment• Large or small scale, public or householdLarge or small scale, public or household• traditional, but currently underutilizedtraditional, but currently underutilized

Possible Solutions - Water Spring captureSpring capture Hydraulic ram (uses energy of stream)Hydraulic ram (uses energy of stream) Storage and distribution systemsStorage and distribution systems

• Well, spring, surface waterWell, spring, surface water• May include treatment, e.g., filterMay include treatment, e.g., filter• UrbanUrban

– e.g, Bogotáe.g, Bogotá

• every developed place has piped waterevery developed place has piped water

Possible Solutions - Water

Household water treatmentHousehold water treatment• Household filters (DavNor)Household filters (DavNor)• Chemical additives (Pur)Chemical additives (Pur)

EducationEducation• Knowledge of hygieneKnowledge of hygiene• Maintenance of systemsMaintenance of systems

Possible Solutions - Sanitation Latrines, pit toiletsLatrines, pit toilets

• appropriate?appropriate? Septic systemsSeptic systems

• infiltration?infiltration?

Possible Solutions - Sanitation

Sewer systemsSewer systems• small-bore sewerssmall-bore sewers• can do at any scalecan do at any scale• treatment!treatment!

– O&MO&M

• dischargedischarge• enough water?enough water?

Health and Hygiene educationHealth and Hygiene education

Costs

Case Study: Maldives Private project in 1988-89Private project in 1988-89 Where’s Maldives?Where’s Maldives?

Maldives

Our Island

Our Island

Maldives Project

RAEMAS - Research And Education in RAEMAS - Research And Education in Mariculture and Agriculture SystemsMariculture and Agriculture Systems

Water and SanitationWater and Sanitation• People want septic systemsPeople want septic systems

– but would contaminate well waterbut would contaminate well water

• StrategyStrategy– build rainwater tanksbuild rainwater tanks– use drain fields instead of pitsuse drain fields instead of pits

Keeping it realKeeping it real• do you have this do you have this

on your island?on your island?• Huriha dhon mihun Huriha dhon mihun

bo sakaraibo sakarai• what did your what did your

mother teach you?mother teach you?

Results

Septic tank conclusionsSeptic tank conclusions• given: people were going to build septic given: people were going to build septic

systemssystems• we came up with a way that reduces the we came up with a way that reduces the

effects on well water qualityeffects on well water quality• can educate, influence, but cannot totally can educate, influence, but cannot totally

change peoplechange people

Appropriate Technology Don’t just export your own technologyDon’t just export your own technology

• culturally, economically, and technically appropriateculturally, economically, and technically appropriate Sustainability Sustainability

• ““sustainability” is broader but includes much of what sustainability” is broader but includes much of what we used to call “appropriate tech”we used to call “appropriate tech”

• Five factors (McConville, 2006)Five factors (McConville, 2006)– Socio-cultural RespectSocio-cultural Respect– Community participationCommunity participation– Political cohesionPolitical cohesion– Economic sustainabilityEconomic sustainability– Environmental sustainabilityEnvironmental sustainability

• McConville, J.R. 2006, “Applying Life Cycle Thinking to International Water and Sanitation McConville, J.R. 2006, “Applying Life Cycle Thinking to International Water and Sanitation Development Projects: An assessment tool for project managers in sustainable Development Projects: An assessment tool for project managers in sustainable development work”, Michigan Tech, Environmental Engineering MS Report.development work”, Michigan Tech, Environmental Engineering MS Report.

Culturally Appropriate?

Appropriate Technology CounterpointCounterpoint

• ““Appropriate technology … means good Appropriate technology … means good things for rich people and sh*t for the poor”things for rich people and sh*t for the poor”– Father Lafontant, “Mountains Beyond Father Lafontant, “Mountains Beyond

Mountains” p.90Mountains” p.90

Maldive mistakesMaldive mistakes• elevated pit toiletselevated pit toilets• community toiletscommunity toilets

Case Study: Amazon

Indigenous (Ticuna and Yagua) villages Indigenous (Ticuna and Yagua) villages near Leticia, Colombia, including Brazil near Leticia, Colombia, including Brazil and Peruand Peru• At the request of missionariesAt the request of missionaries

December ’04 and continuingDecember ’04 and continuing

Leticia, Colombia

Amazon Project - Background

At request of Christian missionary who At request of Christian missionary who works with indigenous pastorsworks with indigenous pastors

Children were dying of waterborne Children were dying of waterborne diseases.diseases.• Unclean water during rainy seasonUnclean water during rainy season• Use river during dry seasonUse river during dry season

Amazon Project – Constraints and Assists

Solution needs to make it to village by canoeSolution needs to make it to village by canoe• Note: Leticia is 500 miles from nearest highwayNote: Leticia is 500 miles from nearest highway

Many villages already have water tanksMany villages already have water tanks Most villages do not have sand availableMost villages do not have sand available Each village is a little differentEach village is a little different

• Accessibility, Resources, Buildings, CountryAccessibility, Resources, Buildings, Country

Have relationship in villages through pastorsHave relationship in villages through pastors• some have church buildingssome have church buildings

On the Amazon on the way to villages

With kids at a village

A pastor’s wife in front of her church

Pastor’s wife grinding yucca in her home What’s in there?

Hello boa

Many villages have rainwater collection tanks.

This village also had a well that yielded good water, although it went dry during the dry season

Villagers used this pond for bathing and some drinking and cooking

This other village had a well, but it was busted and unused because it yielded bad tasting water (sulfur taste is the main problem).

This village was on the Amazon itself and was quite developed, including electricity, yet had pitiful water and sanitation facilities. Here’s a “bathroom”.

Many politicians and government agencies like to help the indigenous people and have donated rainwater tanks to the villages. You can see their names on the tanks. Some of the tanks, however, are unused. They also run out of water during the short dry season.

A main problem in instituting any type of system is ensuring that the people use and maintain it and take responsibility for it. The one below shows another mostly homemade rainwater catchment.

The family with the system above had initiative—they fashioned a rainwater collection system out of materials they had and used a cloth to cover the tank. The cloth is a good idea because it filters out debris including bird droppings and keeps critters out of the water tank.

Senior Design Team Sp. 05 Built a sand filter and a biosand filter side-by-sideBuilt a sand filter and a biosand filter side-by-side

• High coliform creek water put through.High coliform creek water put through.• Sand filter removed most fecal coli.Sand filter removed most fecal coli.• Biosand filter removed Biosand filter removed allall fecal coli. fecal coli.

Fecal coliform resultsFecal coliform results

Creek water without filtration

Sand filter Biosand filter

Biosand Filter

Technical Solution Rainwater catchment withRainwater catchment with

• Increased storageIncreased storage– 3 Tanks in series3 Tanks in series

• FiltrationFiltration– biosand filterbiosand filter

Demonstration Summer ’05: Installed on church Demonstration Summer ’05: Installed on church in Zaragoza villagein Zaragoza village• Pastor and village have reputation for responsibilityPastor and village have reputation for responsibility• Governor of Amazonas and mayor of Leticia support Governor of Amazonas and mayor of Leticia support

this work and said they’d help us put systems on this work and said they’d help us put systems on schools if the demo system worksschools if the demo system works

Construction of filter

Our stuff heading out on the Amazon

Our stuff arriving in Zaragoza

Kids hanging out in the house

Gregorio (the guy who’s doing all the work)

Our system installed

With the pastor, his wife, and brother

Our audience

Just for Fun: photos around Leticia

Tabatinga, Brazil | Leticia, Colombia

Isla de los Micos

Photos at zoo – two anacondas

Woo Tapir Sooeee!

Katie’s trip Medical clinics up tributary in Peru.Medical clinics up tributary in Peru.

• With 3 people from Fayetteville’s Central With 3 people from Fayetteville’s Central United MethodistUnited Methodist

• 2 doctors from Peru; a dentist from 2 doctors from Peru; a dentist from ColombiaColombia

The team

Katie preparing medications

Katie preparing medications

Jaime singing with the kids

The boat

On the boat

Katie with an anaconda

5 systems constructed 2006

Rio Loretoyacu, an Amazon tributary in Rio Loretoyacu, an Amazon tributary in ColombiaColombia• with John Lawrence, engineer with John Lawrence, engineer • with authority of the governor we built with authority of the governor we built

water collection and filtration systems in 5 water collection and filtration systems in 5 indigenous (Ticuna tribe) villages.indigenous (Ticuna tribe) villages.

• systems on schools and health clinicssystems on schools and health clinics

Rio Loretoyacu

Leticia

Colombia

Peru

BrazilPeru

Rio Amazonas

San Juan de Soco 145 people in 30 families145 people in 30 families system on health clinicsystem on health clinic modified designmodified design

Puerto Rico Especially industrious and precise workersEspecially industrious and precise workers System on health worker’s residenceSystem on health worker’s residence Added to his existing tankAdded to his existing tank

Dos de Octubre woman chiefwoman chief brought gutter around buildingbrought gutter around building plans for big systemplans for big system

Villa Andrea

not happy to see us; not happy to see us; system on school; system on school; headhunter rumorheadhunter rumor

San Francisco larger and more developed than other villages; not real friendlylarger and more developed than other villages; not real friendly system on catholic school on top of hillsystem on catholic school on top of hill hooked filter up to existing tankshooked filter up to existing tanks

photos from various places

The Future

PeruPeru• ministry of Agriculture ministry of Agriculture

Household systems?Household systems? Hygiene education.Hygiene education. Sanitation systems?Sanitation systems?

China Project

Leon Chen, Kerr-McGee, project leaderLeon Chen, Kerr-McGee, project leader• Dick Greenly, Pumps of OklahomaDick Greenly, Pumps of Oklahoma• OthersOthers

Solar pumps in Zuang villages, Guanxi, ChinaSolar pumps in Zuang villages, Guanxi, China• Poor area with countless small villagesPoor area with countless small villages• Karst geologyKarst geology• Shorten time and ease work for getting waterShorten time and ease work for getting water

Guanxi, China

China Project Leon and team visited in February ‘05Leon and team visited in February ‘05 Went in July ’05 to install pumpsWent in July ’05 to install pumps IssuesIssues

• Storage of waterStorage of water• Arsenic treatment?Arsenic treatment?• Buy goats?Buy goats?

StatusStatus• Leon is living there now with contract to Leon is living there now with contract to

install thousands of systemsinstall thousands of systems

With kids at a village

Lessons and Issues It’s not that easyIt’s not that easy

• Many project failMany project fail• It’s hard to changeIt’s hard to change• Everyone is differentEveryone is different• The importance of cultureThe importance of culture

– respectrespect– anthropologyanthropology

• positivespositives• negativesnegatives

– human zoohuman zoo– Yanomami (-amo, ao, …)Yanomami (-amo, ao, …)

• Language is a big dealLanguage is a big deal

How appropriate.

““Appropriate” does not necessarily mean Appropriate” does not necessarily mean low techlow tech

““Appropriate” does not necessarily mean Appropriate” does not necessarily mean traditionaltraditional

Observation: everyone in the world who Observation: everyone in the world who has money has piped water to their has money has piped water to their home and a flush toilet.home and a flush toilet.

Keeping it going

O&MO&M financially sustainable?financially sustainable? ownership, responsibility?ownership, responsibility? stealability?stealability?

Community developmentCommunity development• You go to do engineering, but end up You go to do engineering, but end up

involved in broader scale community involved in broader scale community developmentdevelopment– Agriculture, IndustryAgriculture, Industry– MedicineMedicine– EducationEducation

Community ResponsibilityCommunity Responsibility• Need people in village to take ownership of Need people in village to take ownership of

projectproject• Hard to change entrenched attitudes and Hard to change entrenched attitudes and

habitshabits• Know who you’re dealing with (e.g., Know who you’re dealing with (e.g.,

culture)culture)

How to Measure?How to Measure?• by $$$$$ spent?by $$$$$ spent?• by results?by results?• life cycle analysis?life cycle analysis?

What can we do? One of the problems with poor people is One of the problems with poor people is

that they don’t have a lot of moneythat they don’t have a lot of money• Funding spread real thinFunding spread real thin• Not “cutting edge”Not “cutting edge”

– Nothing new about poor people with bad waterNothing new about poor people with bad water

Then again, a lot is happening… Engineers Without BordersEngineers Without Borders Church groupsChurch groups Foundations: Gates, Clinton, etc..Foundations: Gates, Clinton, etc.. NGOs – PeaceWork, Save the NGOs – PeaceWork, Save the

Children, Care, Heifer internationalChildren, Care, Heifer international Look at the positivesLook at the positives

Approaches Do it BIG!Do it BIG!

• Does Foreign aid work?Does Foreign aid work?– http://http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?idabcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1957412=1957412

• Democracy and capitalism workDemocracy and capitalism work

Americans are stingyAmericans are stingy• USA ranks 21USA ranks 21stst out of 22 countries in foreign aid out of 22 countries in foreign aid

per capitaper capita• Oh really?Oh really?

– When you include private giving, USA gives way way When you include private giving, USA gives way way more than anyone else (it’s not close)more than anyone else (it’s not close)

The University of Arkansas

Goal: combine academia with practiceGoal: combine academia with practice• Service LearningService Learning• Research: Build a better mousetrap Research: Build a better mousetrap

– but don’t reinvent the wheelbut don’t reinvent the wheel

• Professional musicians, athletes, and you?Professional musicians, athletes, and you?– A few get paid; most pay to do itA few get paid; most pay to do it