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© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 1 of 23
Document 521
PRE-ASSESSMENT REPORT
CHAPTER: University of Minnesota
COUNTRY: Guatemala
COMMUNITY: Simajhuleu
PROJECT: Uniting Water and People
TRAVEL DATES: March 14-23, 2014
Prepared By
Alex Motley
Dan Hoffmann
Jacob French
Rachel Orlovsky
Jacob Roble
Luke Horsager
Justin Schnee
Spencer Borchardt
Rebecca Herron
Adam Talajkowski
January 19, 2014
ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS-USA
www.ewb-usa.org
521 - Pre-Assessment Report Revised 09/01/2013
University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 2 of 23
Pre-Assessment Report Part 1 – Administrative Information
1.0 Contact Information
Name Email Phone Chapter
Project Lead Jacob French [email protected] (314) 629-5100 UMN
Project Lead Rebecca
Herron
[email protected] (319) 431-5517 UMN
Simajhuleu Lead Alex Motley [email protected] (314) 704-9058 UMN
President Kelly Stifter [email protected] (651) 328-1937 UMN
Mentor #1 Kevin Miller [email protected]
m
(612) 644-1170 MN
Mentor #2
(Travelling)
Kim Haglund [email protected]
m
(651) 308-8147 MN
Mentor #3
(Travelling)
Justin Schnee [email protected] (651) 230-4199 MN
Faculty Advisor Matt Simcik [email protected] (612) 626-6269 UMN
Health and Safety
Officer
Rebecca
Herron
[email protected] (310) 431-5517 UMN
Assistant Health and
Safety Officer
Samantha
Meyer
[email protected] (763) 607-6920 UMN
Education Lead Daniel
Hoffman
[email protected] (715) 803-5666 UMN
Planning, Monitoring,
Evaluation and
Learning (PMEL)
Lead
Jacob French [email protected] (314) 629-5100 UMN
NGO/Community
Contact
Elizabeth
Howland
[email protected] 0115024932888
9
Long
Way
Home
2.0 Travel History
Dates of Travel Assessment or
Implementation
Description of Trip
January 5-12,
2008
Assessment Meet with Simajhuleu community. Discuss existing
design for proposed water line. Explore alternative design
options. Collect information on community, topography,
availability of water, water quality, soil stability, ...
July 9-17, 2008 Assessment Survey Simajhuleu residents about water usage. Gather
additional technical data about the existing water
distribution system.
Aug 23 –Sept,
2009
Implementation The construction of a 130,000L concrete rainwater
cistern and supporting rainwater collection system for the
521 - Pre-Assessment Report Revised 09/01/2013
University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 3 of 23
school in Simajhuleu. Also training locals to be able to
operate and maintain structures in the future.
January 6-17,
2010
Assessment Investigation into possible solutions to the village-wide
water problems with data collection of multiple forms.
(e.g. survey)
May 19- June 2,
2010
Assessment Continued data collection with regards to a solution for
Simajhuleu’s water system. Began addressing
alternatives analysis with the village to determine a best
possible design to move forward with but were
interrupted by Tropical Storm Agatha.
August 24 –
Sept 3, 2010
Assessment Completion of intended discussions from previous
assessment. Reached an agreement with local officials’
responsibilities for a future implementation. Surveyed
potential construction sites and obstacles.
Feb 17 – Feb 21,
March 11 – 21,
2011
Implementation Originally supposed to be an implementation, but
political and communication issues put the project
temporarily on hold. Instead, an assessment trip was
conducted to gain a better understanding of the new
governing board.
Aug 10 – Aug
23, 2011
Assessment/
Monitoring
Made improvements/ repairs to existing Rain Water
Harvesting system. Collected data regarding spring line
system.
3.0 Travel Team (Should be 8 or fewer):
# Name E-mail Phone Chapter Student or
Professional
1 Jacob French [email protected] (314) 629-5100 UMN Student
2 Rebecca Herron [email protected] (319) 431-5517 UMN Student
3 Nick Bodette [email protected] (651) 295-7032 UMN Student
4 Kim Haglund [email protected] (651) 308-8147 MN Professional
5 Jacob Robole [email protected] (612) 229-9205 UMN Student
6 Samantha Meyer [email protected] (763) 607-6920 UMN Student
7 Burke Minahan [email protected] (920) 495-8726 UMN Student
8 Daniel Hoffman [email protected] (715) 803-5666 UMN Student
9 Justin Schnee [email protected] (651) 230-4199 MN Professional
This assessment trip has a travel team of 9 people because it is sharing a travel team with the
implementation trip that is occurring in Agua Caliente during the same period.
4.0 Health and Safety
The travel team will follow the details depicted in the stand alone Health and Safety Report
(HASP) that was submitted with this document.
521 - Pre-Assessment Report Revised 09/01/2013
University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 4 of 23
5.0 Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
5.1 If this will be the first assessment trip for the program, is the Draft 901 –
Program Plan and Baseline Study included with this report? ___Yes ___No
_X_Not the First Assessment trip
5.2 This is not the first assessment trip and the travel team has reviewed the
901B – Program Impact Monitoring Report template and has assigned travel
team members to complete this report during the upcoming trip. We
acknowledge that the completed 901B is required with the eventual submittal
of the 522 – Post-Assessment Trip Report. _X_Yes ___No
6.0 Budget
6.1 Project Budget Project ID: University of Minnesota Agua Caliente, Guatemala
Type of Trip: Assessment = $1,500
Item Quantity Unit Price Total Cost
Travel
Airfare 9 round trip flights $850 $7,650
Gas Q1000 to LWH for 1 week $130 $130
Transportation 2 Trips to the airport $80 $160
Misc. To LWH $500 $500
Total
$8,440
Travel Logistics
Inoculations Inoculations for 9 people $10 $90
Insurance 9 people $15.75 $142
Total
$232
Food and Lodging
Lodging 9 people for 9 nights, 81 man nights $10 $810
Food and Beverage Dinner @ Feliciano’s 81 times $3.75 $304
Misc. Gratuity $20 $20
Total
$1,134
Labor
In-country Logistical
Support Internet access at LWH for 1 week $25 $25
Misc. Translator for the week $1,000 $1,000
Total
$1,025
EWB-USA
Program QA/QC Assessment $1,500 $1,500
521 - Pre-Assessment Report Revised 09/01/2013
University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 5 of 23
Total
$1,500
Grand Total
$12,331
7.0 Project Discipline
Water Supply
____ Source Development
____ Water Storage
__X_ Water Distribution
____ Water Treatment
____ Water Pump
Sanitation
____ Latrine
____ Gray Water System
____ Black Water System
Structures
____ Bridge
____ Building
Civil Works
____ Roads
____ Drainage
____ Dams
Energy
____ Fuel
____ Electricity
Agriculture
____ Irrigation Pump
____ Irrigation Line
____ Water Storage
____ Soil Improvement
____ Fish Farm
____ Crop Processing Equipment
Information Systems
____ Computer Service
8.0 Project Location
Latitude: 14.79
Longitude: -90.85
9.0 Project Impact Number of Persons directly affected: 800
Number of Persons indirectly affected: 2,500
10.0 Professional Mentor Resume
Justin Schnee
Education:
Iowa State University
BS Civil Engineering, 2011
Experience:
Associate Engineer
521 - Pre-Assessment Report Revised 09/01/2013
University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 6 of 23
Bay West LLC, St. Paul, MN
April 2013 – Present
Primary plant operator/engineer for a 1,000-gpm groundwater recovery and treatment system for
TCE and chlorinated VOCs at the Former Naval Industrial Ordnance Plant Superfund Site, a
weapons manufacturing facility.
Responsibilities include daily O&M/repair of all GWTF components associated with the site,
including:
Routine maintenance of the groundwater extraction system which consists of 9 extraction
wells, 4 air strippers (capacity of 250-gpm each) piped in parallel, feed pumps, discharge
pumps, a polymer feed system, an acid cleaning neutralization system, various field
sensors and a SCADA system
Working with PM to identify/integrate system optimization technologies, update system
O&M manual, and communicate with regulators and Navy
Conducting NPDES permit sampling; groundwater gauging and sampling
Oversight of crews to complete annual sampling
Specialty equipment vendor and subcontractor oversight
Site security and safety and health oversight
Quality Control Engineer
EFCO Corp., Des Moines, IA
May 2010 – March 2013
Responsible for documentation and verification of quality for items manufactured and received
accomplished by the creation and implementation of inspection plans, application of statistical
analysis for process improvement, and continuous communication with design and process
engineers.
Field Technician
Des Moines Water Works, Des Moines, IA
September 2012 – April 2013
Responsible for ensuring optimal operation of a lime softening treatment facility and an UF/RO
treatment facility by conducting plant inspections, water sampling, and lab testing.
Field and Lab Intern
Certified Testing Services, Sioux City, IA
Summers 2007 – 2008
Provided construction projects with field and in-house testing and inspection services to ensure
quality and to document construction workmanship. Responsible for conducting concrete field
tests for slump and entrained air and conducting in-house flexural and compressive strength tests.
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University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
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Inspecting the quality of reinforcing steel assemblies and placement for concrete construction.
Collecting soil samples and performing proctor density test.
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University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
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Pre-Assessment Report Part 2 – Technical Information
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Uniting Water and People is a water distribution project proposed by the University of
Minnesota Engineers Without Borders Chapter (EWB-USA UMN). A proposed assessment trip
is planned from March 14-23 2014. During this trip, EWB-USA UMN will survey any changes
to the current system made since previous assessments in 2010 and hold meetings with the
community to communicate the proposed plans to improve the water distribution system.
The goal of the project is to improve the current water supply and distribution system of the
community. Currently, the community water system suffers from increased demand, decreased
supply, and uneven pressures across the system. This project aims to correct these issues; in
multiple phases if necessary.
The name of the community is Simajhuleu, a village of about 2500 people in the region of
Comalapa, Guatemala. Simajhuleu is economically, socially, and politically isolated from the
rest of Guatemala largely due to its inaccessibility in the central highlands. This inaccessibility is
exacerbated during the rainy season when rain, mud, and landslides effectively obstruct dirt
roads, which serve as the only means of transportation in to or out of the village. Simajhuleu,
covering an area of approximately six square kilometers, has an almost 40-year-old PVC pipeline
originally designed and left incomplete by a Canadian engineering firm. This is the current
means of distributing water to the residents in the community, along with the water collected by
the rainwater harvesting system built by EWB-USA UMN in August 2009. The number of
residents in the village has almost doubled since the original system was designed, resulting in a
larger demand for water. As the system ages, leaks occur from built up pressure at the end of the
system, further decreasing the amount of water available. The outdated gravity fed water
distribution system goes through 150 meters of vertical elevation change in which water pressure
can exceed 215 psi. The citizens of Simajhuleu are forced to keep all taps open to prevent the
excessive pressure from damaging the aging and inadequate pipe system. The COCODE, the
water board of the village, is responsible for the care and repair of the water system. Most of its
members are skilled tradesmen in masonry, plumbing, and carpentry. Along with collaborating
with the COCODE, EWB-USA UMN has partnered with Long Way Home, an in country NGO.
Long Way Home is a non-profit organization that uses sustainable design and materials to
construct self-sufficient schools that promote education, employment and environmental
stewardship. Long Way Home assists by facilitating communication with the community and
project planning. EWB-USA UMN expects the current partnership to continue on this
project. The project partnership agreement with the community is being developed and a draft of
the agreement can be found in Appendix B.
EWB-USA UMN began a relationship with the community of Simajhuleu, Guatemala with an
assessment trip in January 2008. This trip focused on meeting with the community, discussing
the existing water quality, supply, and distribution system, and collecting general information
about the community. A second assessment trip followed in July of 2008, during which
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University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 9 of 23
additional technical data was collected about the water distribution system. An implementation
trip occurred during the end of August and beginning of September 2009, during which the
construction of a 130,000 liter concrete rainwater cistern and supporting rainwater collection
system was constructed for a school in Simajhuleu. The community members were also trained
at this time to operate and maintain the structure. Three assessment trips occurred in January,
May, and August of 2010, all of which consisted of data collection and discussion with the
village regarding possible solutions to the village-wide water system problems. During the
August trip, an agreement was reached with the local officials concerning future implementation
and construction sites were surveyed. A trip for the implementation of a new water system was
supposed to occur in February of 2011, but political and communication issues put the project
temporarily on hold. An assessment trip in March 2011 was conducted instead, having the goal
of better understanding the new governing board in Simajhuleu. In August 2011, an
assessment/monitoring trip was made to make improvements and repairs to the rainwater
harvesting system and to collect data regarding the spring line water system.
During the proposed assessment trip in March of 2014 the main goal is to document any changes
to the system since EWB-USA UMN was last involved with the community. The travel team
will also take any necessary measurements to obtain data that has changed due to changes in the
system. The topographical maps for the previously planned distribution system will also be
verified to ensure that the planned locations for the pipes and tanks will still function. It is also
crucial that the travel team begin to communicate the plans for the project to the community as a
whole. To achieve this, EWB-USA UMN will hold several community meetings to explain the
plans for the proposed system and answer any questions that the community members may
have. The travel team will also inspect the rainwater harvesting system that was implemented in
August 2009 to monitor its condition.
Upon the completion of this trip, it will be determined if enough information has been gathered
to fully plan an implementation trip. If so, implementation details will be agreed upon with the
community to proceed to project completion. If not, another assessment trip will be made to
collect missing data, followed by an implementation trip at a later date.
2.0 INTRODUCTION
The community of Simajhuleu is a skilled trade and farming community in the region of
Comalapa, Guatemala. The mountainous terrain and unkempt road to the community keep it
fairly isolated from the nearby larger community of Comalapa, but despite this fact, several
members of the community travel there to sell goods or find work. This area of Guatemala has a
pronounced rainy and dry season because of its geographical location and mountainous terrain,
causing some issues with the ability of the community to have a reliable source of water year
round. With no spring running through the community and a six-month dry season, rainwater
harvesting alone was not a viable solution to provide sufficient water to the community. It is for
this reason that the community sought the aid of a Canadian engineering firm to help them
design and construct a spring water supply and distribution system 40 years ago. The Canadian
company pulled out before the completion of the project, leaving the community with an
incomplete and therefore poorly operating system that they've attempted to improve and upkeep
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University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 10 of 23
over time. The existing system consists of two long spring lines leading to a large tank, which
then feeds the distribution system throughout the community. With a lack of any pressure break
system in the mountainous area, the system goes through 150 meters of vertical change causing
pressure in some areas that can exceed 215 psi. Some households barely receive water, while
others have to constantly leave their taps on to avoid bursting pipes that lead to their houses. The
COCODE, or community water board, currently rations water distribution with a rotating
schedule that allows access to water one out of every three days. Since the system was built, the
community has also expanded. The current system now provides water for 2,500 community
members. EWB-USA UMN plans to complete a series of implementations that will improve the
spring lines to the system, control the pressure differences in the distribution system, and help
the community maintain a more consistent water level in the holding tank. This will provide the
community with a dependable supply of water that they can rely on year round.
With assistance from the Minnesota Professional Chapter of EWB USA, EWB USA-UMN has
engineered a solution to reduce the pressure load in Simajhuleu with a series of pressure break
tanks. A new trunk line will be installed to connect the pressure break tanks on one end to the
existing storage tank and at the other end to the existing distribution system. This new system
will provide water to Sector 5 and will connect to existing lines that serve individual homes.
Each segment will be served by one pressure break tank, which will be designed to limit the
maximum pressure for each segment. This will allow families who have received a sufficient
amount of water to shut off their taps without damaging the system.
By reducing the pressure EWB-USA UMN will also allow the water board in Simajhuleu to
begin work on the existing distribution system. Until now the water board has been fixing leaks
and repairing the system to the best of their ability. However, due to the high pressure, a fix in
one part of the system often causes another area to fail. After the pressure is regulated, these
repairs can become permanent.
To begin to address the issue of excessive demand these implementations will be partnered with
an ongoing education campaign. This will focus on demonstrating to the community the
importance of closing their taps when they have received the appropriate amount of water. We
will stress the importance of this requirement as no system can operate with every tap open at all
times.
The work required to address the many flaws of Simajhuleu's distribution system are beyond the
scope of a single implementation. Therefore, future implementations will include creating
pressure break tanks for Sectors 1 through 4, which will be very similar to the proposed system
for Sector 5. This will be followed by the construction of a storage tank, which will provide the
village with the ability to store one day worth of water. This new tank will allow the system to
meet peak demand as well as act as a safety net when the supply lines are broken.
3.0 PROGRAM BACKGROUND
The proposed project has a unique history with EWB-USA UMN. The project implementation
was attempted in 2010, but was forced to be abandoned due to change in political leaders in the
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Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 11 of 23
area. EWB-USA UMN will be re-assessing the community to update any data that may have
changed in the three years that has passed since the planned implementation as well as making
sure the community is fully informed during all project phases in order to avoid the same
political misunderstanding that occurred in 2010.
Simajhuleu is a community of approximately 2,500 people. An almost 40-year-old PVC pipeline
originally designed and left incomplete by a Canadian engineering firm is the current means of
distributing water to the residents. The number of residents in the community has almost doubled
since the original system was designed, resulting in a larger demand of water. As the system
ages, leaks occur from built up pressure at the end of the system, further decreasing the amount
of water available.
The pipeline is composed of PVC no greater the 2 ½ inches in diameter and the majority is
constructed from 1 ¼ inch and3/4 inch PVC. The system is fed from three springs located 4 to 8
kilometers away. In 2010 the springs were able to supply the community with 92 liters per
capita daily (LPCD). This was determined through measuring the inflow into the main tank
where all three supply lines meet before entering the distribution system. At this point in the
system, a chlorination system was installed and is still currently used to clean the water before
being distributed. The chlorination system is a pool chlorinator that uses tablets, supplied by the
government, to treat the water. This system has been tested by the government and has passed
due to no identification of biological contaminants. Our team also analyzed the water in 2010
and confirmed the government’s results. Our investigation also tested for contamination from
chemicals, heavy metals, and physical characteristics. All of these tests concluded that the water
was safe to drink.
The COCODE, or water board of the village, is responsible for the care and repair of the water
system. The COCODE is a group of elected officials that regulates the uses and repairs of the
system and has been able to keep the current system operational for almost 40 years with very
limited monetary resources. This is a direct result of the skills possessed by the COCODE
members. Most members are skilled tradesmen in masonry, plumbing and carpentry. This skill
set will factor into EWB USA-UMN’s materials selection as well as our operation and
maintenance plans.
4.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This goal of this project is to bring an effective way of distributing water to the many households
of Simajhuleu through the implementation of new water tanks and piping. We plan to construct
pressure break tanks in strategic, predetermined locations throughout the community to dissipate
excess pressure in the system. Part of the piping distribution system will also be redesigned so
that each household receives an adequate supply of water. This project is planned to take several
years to complete and is going to start where the need for water is most prevalent. It was
determined that Sector 5 is the most in need of water, so the implementation will start there.
When the project is completed, the goal is for all of the community of Simajhuleu to have
reliable access to water, one of the most basic human rights. Drawings of the community and the
proposed changes can be found attached.
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Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 12 of 23
5.0 OBJECTIVES OF SITE ASSESSMENT TRIP
The objectives of our site assessment are described in the following section. EWB-USA UMN's
goal is to examine the system as a whole and determine what first phase would have the largest
community impact. Despite our detailed assessments two or three years in the past, the
community has made significant changes to try to get a consistent amount of water to more
households utilizing the system, so our group has determined that much of the assessment
process has to be repeated. We are designing this assessment with the intent that there will be a
second assessment before the first phase of an implementation.
5.1 Spring Line Assessment
Our previous assessments refer to three spring lines providing water to the distribution tank and
system. Since this time the community's needs have increased, and one of the spring lines was
put out of commission. We will be examining the existing spring lines for leakage and potential
increased capacity, as well as survey two springs and areas for potential new spring lines to add
to the system. In order to do this we will be using the TRIMBLE as well as hand held GPS units
for geographical information about the potential locations. We will compare these with existing
geographical data in order to examine how much of the system has changed since the
assessments two and three years ago.
5.2 Water Tank and Pipe Assessment
The main goal of this part of the assessment is to compare our existing data with the updated
system. We have significant amounts of data, and our group hopes to update large portions of
this rather than starting from scratch. The plan is to use our current topographic map of the
Aldea of Simajhuleu, outlined in Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings attached, to find the
points where the pressure break tanks were going to be added, and see if these are still trouble
points. In order to do this, pressure gauges will be taken in order to take pressure readings at
points of potential stress in the system and determine if these locations are still the most at risk
areas. We will re-map our pressure readings with the existing and see what remains the same
after the community has changed parts of the system and what should be updated. The previous
plan can be found in Appendix A. We also need to determine if any of the land where the
pressure break tanks were planned to be located have changed ownership. If there are changes in
property ownership, we need to ask the landowners for permission to potentially place the tanks
on their property. Furthermore, we will be assessing the overall operation of the system to
determine whether the logical first step in 2010 is still a logical first step now.
5.3 Damage and Change Log
Over the last few years that this project has been left untouched, there are potential changes that
may have occurred that we intend to look into. The rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) that
was implemented in August 2009 will be inspected to ensure that it is still in optimal
condition. This will be accomplished with both a physical check and by communicating with the
community and NGO. We also plan to do an inspection on the main water tank that supplies the
community with water to check if there are any immediate repairs that need to be assessed. The
travel team will also talk with the COCODE and the local plumber who repairs the system, Don
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Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 13 of 23
Lucas, to ensure that we are aware of any changes to the system. So far we know that much of
sector 5's distribution system was replaced with larger pipe in order to try to ensure flow to
farther places. These changes will be inspected and documented so they can be factored into the
updated design of the existing water distribution system.
5.4 Community Meetings
During this trip we will meet with both the COCODE and the community of Simajhuleu as a
whole to ensure that we are communicating our plans clearly and effectively with them. The
COCODE is the village’s political leadership concerning water related issue. In the past there
were communication issues between our chapter and the community as a whole. We plan to
have several meetings to answer any questions in the community and explain our plans and
rational. By engaging in these community meetings along with the COCODE we will also be
able to show that unity exists between our EWB Chapter and the COCODE, helping to validate
our group within the community.
We also need to begin discussing the concept of conserving water with the community. On
previous assessment trips it has become apparent that many of the community members run their
taps continually since they don’t consistently receive water on their appointed day. No matter
the solution implemented, it will require that the community only run their water when they need
it, not all the time. Therefore, it is crucial that we begin to change the culture of wasting water in
the community for the long-term success of the project. The meetings during this assessment trip
will begin to educate the community about this as it will likely take several meetings before the
community starts to change their habits.
5.5 Rainwater Harvesting System
Although the main purpose of this trip is to assess for the water supply and distribution system,
there are two main goals regarding the monitoring of the rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) in
Simajhuleu. These include 1) following up with RWHS implementation work that was
performed in August 2011, and 2) inspect and quantify operating condition/ maintenance of the
RWHS. Most of the work in country will be an extension of regular phone calls to the
community and NGO.
6.0 COMMUNITY INFORMATION
6.1 Description of the Community Simajhuleu is a community in Guatemala located in the central highlands of the country. It is
economically, socially and politically isolated from the rest of Guatemala largely due to its
inaccessibility. The population consists of about 2,500 people. Its residents rely heavily on a
water distribution system that was implemented more than 40 years ago. Within the community
there is a water board, or the COCODE, that is responsible for the care and repair of the current
water system. Its members are skilled tradesmen specializing in carpentry, plumbing and
masonry.
6.2 Community and Partnering Organization/NGO Resources and Constraints
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Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 14 of 23
The COCODE is the water board of the community, which works to improve and maintain their
water system. They regulate the use of the water of the community members as well as complete
repairs. They’ve been able to keep their current system operating for more than 40 years despite
little outside resources. A benefit to this project is the members of the COCODE are skilled
workmen, which will help with the implementation of the water system in water sector 5. In
addition to the COCODE, Don Lucas, the town plumber, is the person who often repairs any
damage to the system and thus has a thorough understanding of its operations and problems. In
past trips there were problems with communication with the community and political stability
within the COCODE, which was a constraint in finishing the project. However, the new
COCODE is aware of the previous problems and is in agreement that these factors need to be
eliminated. Simajhuleu is located remotely in the central Guatemalan highlands. However, most
of the resources needed for the project can either be found in the village or are available within
driving distance in the nearby city of Comalapa. The in country NGO, Long Way Home, has
helped with numerous implementation and assessment trips in the past, as well as helped
maintain communication with the community. For this project EWB USA-UMN expects that
Long Way Home will continue to assist in communication and planning with the community and
COCODE of Simajhuleu.
6.3 Community Relations
After the last implementation trip was placed on hold due to a political change in the COCODE,
EWB USA-UMN did not keep in contact with Simajhuleu except to continue to monitor the
rainwater harvesting system installed in August of 2009. During the previous implementation
trip to Agua Caliente in August 2013, members of the COCODE contacted Liz Howland, the
main point of contact for Long Way Home, in hopes of meeting with the EWB USA-UMN
again. The members of the COCODE had changed again and the new COCODE wanted to
reopen the relationship with EWB USA-UMN. During this meeting the relationship with
Simajhuleu was rekindled to continue the project with sector 5. Since then Long Way Home has
helped maintain communication with the community.
6.4 Community Priorities
The community has invested a substantial amount of time and money into maintaining their
current water system. Both the age of the system and its PVC construction has led to concern
over the system’s longevity. The community wants the help of EWB USA-UMN to propose a
more sustainable and effective water distribution system so that residents will have reliable
access to water. This will allow members of the community to not have their taps on all the time,
hoping to collect water when it becomes available. The COCODE is not only interested in an
improved system for sector 5, but also for the rest of the community of Simajhuleu, which will
be implemented at a later time.
7.0 DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
7.1 Spring Line Assessment
During our time in Simajhuleu we will be assessing potential places to add new spring lines to
the system. Since our last assessment in Simajhuleu, one spring line has been put out of
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University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 15 of 23
commission, and when paired with the fact that several households have been added to the
system, the amount of water being supplied may no longer be sufficient for the community.
While there we will use the TRIMBLE borrowed from Barr Engineering as well as several hand
held GPS units to survey potential Pamamus Spring access points as well as potential paths for a
new spring line to take from these locations. Based on these observations, we will talk to the
farmers who own land in the area and see if they would consent to having a pipeline run through
their property. This will help us prepare for a potential implementation on the supply lines if
EWB-USA UMN determines this would be the most appropriate first phase of the project in
Simajhuleu.
7.2 Water Tank and Pipe Assessment
7.2.1 Water Tank Assessment
EWB-USA UMN will be using a Level Logger to record water data from the tank and see what
sectors are most in need of increased supply capacity. From our previous assessments in the
area, EWB-USA UMN had determined that the sectors on the three day location were extremely
disproportionate, and for this reason some days in the rotation use significantly more water than
others. Determining which sections have the worst overuse problems will help EWB-USA UMN
determine which distribution sectors need the most immediate attention as far as leakage
prevention, pressure breaking, and education about water conservation i.e. turning taps off when
not in use. This will also help determine if more supply is really needed, or if the usage is not
significantly over the supply and simple fixes like pressure breaks and conservation could take
care of the problem.
7.2.2 Pipe Assessment
Two different methods of assessment will be used to more closely examine the distribution
system. Pressure gauges will be used to test several potentially problematic points in each sector
to see if there are points in the system where pressure break tanks could still be beneficial. In
addition to this, the pipes will be examined for size, wear, and leakage. This will give EWB-
USA UMN a more complete picture of the distribution system to add to the existing CAD
drawings created from the assessment trips two and three years ago. This will help EWB-USA
UMN determine which sectors are in the most immediate need of help, as well as determine what
stage of the system provides the largest problem to the overall health of the system.
7.3 Damage and Change Log
Because of EWB-USA UMN’s involved history in the area, the group has a significant amount
of qualitative and quantitative data about Simajhuleu and the exsisting spring water supply and
distribution system. In order to utilize as much as possible, we will be talking one on one with
several important people from the community including the plumber, Don Lucas, who is in
charge of maintaining the system. This will help EWB-USA UMN determine what existing data
is still accurate, and what parts of the system have had significant changes since our group was
last involved with the community.
For our assessment trip we will be collecting data to supplement 3 existing maps that have been
created from past assessment and implementation trips. The 3 different maps are:
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University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 16 of 23
• Static Pressure Model
• Topography Map
• Household Location and Sector Map
7.3.1 Static Pressure Model
This model was developed by a professional engineer in the Minnesota EWB chapter. From
meeting with the professional chapter we were able to determine from this model that high static
head was most likely causing the majority of damage within the system. We also were made
aware of the inaccuracies of the model which limits our ability to understand exactly the extent
of the problems with the distribution system and what its eventual fixes may be. To form a more
comprehensive and accurate model of the distribution system we will need to collect additional
elevation, pressure, usage and line leak related data. By collecting these types of data, we will be
able to better assess the damage to the system and what the options for implementation maybe.
These results can then be presented to the community to provide them with a better
understanding of the options to repair the distribution system.
7.3.2 Topography Map
The goal to supplement this map is to take GPS elevation readings at locations that will be
potential sites for the neighborhood tanks. This data can then be plugged into our Static Data
Model and the effects of possible tank locations can be seen in terms of pressure changes in the
village.
7.3.3 Household Location and Sector Map
The Household Location and Sector Map shows the village broken into “Water Sectors”. This
map can be found in the PDF attachment with the previous project plans. These are the areas
that receive water at the same time, and are fed by the same distribution line. For example all of
the houses in Sector 1 receive water on the same day (of a 3 day interval) and are all fed by a 1 ½
in. distribution line that stems from the 2 ½ in. line exiting the tank. The houses on the map were
located by GPS on a previous assessment trip.
On this assessment trip we would like to verify that the water sectors are correctly zoned.
7.4 Meetings
EWB-USA UMN will have several meetings with the COCODE and the community throughout
the week in order to make sure that all information about a potential implementation is
transparent and understood. This will help the group make sure that some problems that
occurred in 2011 are not repeated, and the community agrees with our proposed next step.
7.5 Distribution Line Water Meters
For the January 2010 assessment trip, three water meters were installed. One-2” water meter was
installed on the main line and two-1” water meters on the Las Minas lines. In addition to the
main line water meters, 4-5 in-line meters at various points within the distribution system were
installed. It has recently come to our attention that the community does not know how to utilize
these water meters, which could potentially provide valuable data to EWB-USA UMN. For this
reason the group will be educating the community on how to use these meters and record data for
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University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 17 of 23
our group after the trip. This will help us assess the flow rates to different part of the
community.
As indicated above, these water meters will allow us to model the consumption patterns of the
smaller community clusters that exist in the village. By understanding the consumption patterns
of these smaller communities we would be able to better size a neighborhood tank if the
hydrologic model (along with the community) demonstrated that this option was a viable one.
These flow meters will also allow us to back calculate the loss that is occurring due to leaks
within the system. We could determine this because we will be able to compare the main line
flow meter against the smaller sector line flow meters.
7.6 Water Quality Data
We plan on collecting water quality data from the source waters for the village as well as at
various locations within the distribution system to determine if the water is being properly
treated. The tests we plan on using are mandated by EWB for water quality assessment.
7.7 Material Cost Information
With the help of our NGO, Long Way Home, our chapter has identified and worked with several
materials vendors in the Comalapa area in the past. Our chapter has access to a price list for
common construction materials that is maintained by Long Way Home, which we will update
during this assessment trip. During the past implementation trip for this project much of the
material was purchased before the project was put on hold. This material was given to the
contractor whose hotel we stay at in Comalapa to sell so that our chapter could recoup its costs.
During the assessment trip the chapter will meet with this contractor to inventory what has been
sold and what materials we already have for the future implementation.
8.0 PROJECT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
A project partnership agreement is being developed that will be signed with the community
during the assessment, detailing our relationship with the community in the future. The
document 902 Project Partnership Agreement was referenced when creating this agreement. A
draft of the agreement can be found in Appendix B.
9.0 SCHEDULE OF TASKS
Below is a brief break down of what the assessment team plans to do each day. Because of the
large variety of activities, there is a contingency day where any remaining tasks will be
completed which were not allotted enough time.
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Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 18 of 23
Time 3-14 3-15 3-16 3-17 3-18 3-19 3-20 3-21 3-22 3-23
7:30 AM
Travel
Day
Intro
meeting
with
COCODE
Meet with
current
COCODE
and land
owners of
the
locations of
the tanks
Survey
landscape
using
topography
maps
Community
meeting
with
COCODE to
discuss
current plans
and water
conservation
ideas
Retake
flow
rates
of
water
tanks
and
pipes
Meet with
community
to discuss
the project
and answer
any
questions
Survey
landscape
using
topography
maps
Contingency
Day
Travel
Day
8:30 AM
9:30 AM
10:30
AM
Surveying
using
topography
maps
11:30
AM
Inspect
current
water
tank,
piping,
and water
source
Inspect any
new damage
or changes
to the
system
12:30
PM
Monitor the
Rain Water
Harvesting
System
1:30 PM
2:30 PM
3:30 PM
4:30 PM
10.0 PROJECT FEASIBILITY
The overall goal of this project is quite large. To determine whether or not this project is a
reasonable task to complete, it was necessary to determine the feasibility of it. The factors to be
considered were cost, level of difficulty, materials, equipment, amount of labor required, and
community motivation and involvement. The cost to update the distribution system has been
approximated and is a manageable amount for EWB-UMN to pay using funds already in the
EWB-UMN account and funds from additional fundraising. Because the implementation will be
split up into several pieces, the cost will be incurred over several years. In addition, a large
contribution from the COCODE will be used to help pay the total necessary to complete the
project. From our work in the community in the past we are confident that we will be able to
find all the materials either in the community or in the surrounding areas. After the assessment
trip has been completed, a better idea of what materials and the amount of each will be needed,
along with a better idea of what equipment will be needed to most efficiently complete the task.
The necessary labor is all work that can be completed by students with the help of members from
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University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 19 of 23
the community. This project will involve a substantial amount of plumbing work and there are
multiple members of the community who have had experience working as plumbers, one of
which, Don Lucas, has been in charge of working on and repairing the current distribution
system. This project is going to require interaction between EWB-USA UMN and the
community. We have worked with Simajhuleu in the past and feel confident that we will be able
to effectively communicate and work with them. It is going to be crucial that the community
understands the work that will be done and what type of involvement we need from them. There
will be members of the travel team along who can speak and translate Spanish to help ensure
correct understanding between both groups. During and after the construction of the distribution
system, proper communication with the residents is going to be essential because it is necessary
for them to understand that they need to be conscious of how they use the water and need to
remember to turn off their taps when not in use. To do this, we will need to provide community
education on how to properly use the updated distribution system. After examining the criteria
used to determine project feasibility, the examination helps provide support that this project is
feasible.
11.0 PROFESSIONAL MENTOR ASSESSMENT
11.1 Professional Mentor Name and Role
Justin Schnee is the lead technical mentor on the Simajhuleu project. He has several years of
water resources experience and will be traveling with the assessment team in March upon
approval of this document.
11.2 Professional Mentor Assessment
Justin Schnee has worked with the Uniting Water and People Team to develop a plan for moving
forward with the continuation of the assessment phase of this project. The plan is outlined in this
report. To ensure the sustainability of this Chapter’s efforts in Simajhuleu, previous
implementations will be evaluated, community meetings will be conducted to communicate
future project plans and to teach the importance of water conservation, and data collected during
previous assessment trips will be verified and additional data collected as necessary. This
assessment phase is critical to continuation of the project by preparing it for the implementation
phase of the proposed water distribution system improvements.
11.3 Professional Mentor Affirmation
I acknowledge my involvement with the assessment phase planning outlined in this report and I
full support it.
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Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 20 of 23
Index of Appendices
Appendix A: Overview of Simajhuleu
Appendix B: Draft of the Project Partnership Agreement
Appendix A: Overview of Simajhuleu
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Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 21 of 23
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Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 22 of 23
Appendix B: Draft of the Project Partnership Agreement Engineers Without Borders
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Chapter
Minneapolis, Minnesota
15 January 2014
COCODE de Simajhuleu
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Regarding: The assessment of the spring water supply, tank, and distribution system of
Simajhuleu
This contract is an agreement on the assessment of the water supply and distribution system of
Simajhuleu between The Community of Simajhuleu, represented by the COCODE of
Simajhuleu, and Engineers Without Borders University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Chapter
(EWB-USA UMN). Engineers Without Borders and The Community of Simajhuleu will
undertake the stated responsibilities for the assessment process.
The COCODE of Simajhuleu will:
Accurately represent the greater Simajhuleu community to EWB USA-UMN
Adequately explain the assessment activities and project process to all community
members
Organize community meetings requested by EWB USA-UMN during preparation and
execution of the assessment
Provide community guides for daily assessment activities, as well as any help EWB
USA-UMN needs on a per day basis to aid in assessment tasks
Allow EWB-UMN onto the private property of anyone utilizing the system in sectors 1-6,
as well as the private property where the spring lines run.
Continue having monthly contact with Engineers Without Borders about updates in the
community, preparation of the system for implementation, and future coordination with
EWB USA-UMN
Regularly follow the monitoring procedure provided by Engineers Without Borders to
preserve the integrity of the existing rainwater harvesting system and perform
recommended repairs.
Engineers Without Borders will:
Provide 100% of assessment costs
Provide for transportation, food and lodging for all of its travel team members with the
help of Long Way Home
Provide a daily agenda of assessment activities and community meetings prior to arrival
in the community to allow Simajhuleu to prepare adequately
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Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
© 2013 Engineers Without Borders USA. All Rights Reserved Page 23 of 23
Keep in regular contact with Simajhuleu before and during the assessment to discuss
community assistance needs
Continue having monthly contact with the COCODE of Simajhuleu about updates in the
community, preparation for implementation, and future coordination with Simajhuleu
Provide educational materials for reference for the community during the assessment to
aid in the longevity of the existing system for the time being
Provide the community with an updated maintenance plan for the sustainability of the
rainwater harvesting system
Both Engineers Without Borders and the COCODE will uphold the stated responsibilities for the
assessment of the spring water supply and distribution system in order to assure a timely and
successful implementation. This Agreement will be signed prior to EWB-UMN’s arrival for the
assessment in March.
________________________ ________________________
President of COCODE Student Lead of EWB UMN
________________________ ________________________
Vice President of COCODE Professional Lead of EWB UMN