Calling all engineers

[TOOLMAN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obgyn65 I will go back to Guatemala in the next few weeks to run a free clinic. One of the major problems people experience in Central America (and other parts of the world) is the lack of safe, potable water to drink. Does anyone know a safe, cheap, dependable way to build a water filtration system? There are hundreds of thousands of websites on this topic, therefore I am not sure where to start. Also anyone has any experience with "engineers without borders"? Thinking of contacting them also. Thank you for letting me know.

I happened to sit next to a director of Habitat for Humanity on a long flight this week. He said HFH has a Clean Water Projects in Guatemala. Hope this helps.

http://pensacolahabitat.org/wp-conte...er-Project.pdf


Habitat for Humanity Guatemala | Habitat for Humanity Int'l

[Sanbenito1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2ODude It does no good to provide a system if no one takes responsibility for sustainable operation; someone who understands why filtration or disinfection and has the means to collect the $ to sustain it. The more passive the system the better.

I agree with H2Oman that maintenance is key- otherwise it is effort down the drain. I worked on various engineering projects in Laos while a Navy Seabee and that was the first detail we worked out with village leaders. Maintenance funding and who gets it is also a sticky wicket...usually best left with an NGO

[Hermit]

You may want to check out

Bridges to Prosperity | Envisioning a world where poverty caused by rural isolation no longer exists.

as a pattern for building this type of organization.
Bridges to Prosperity builds foot bridges and trains locals to continue the work. They have experience in finding local materials. It started in 2001 with one bridge in Ethiopia with help from the local Rotary in southeast Virginia. They have built over 100 foot bridges around the world so far.

[Gumby]

I saw this organization mentioned in a story about Matt Damon at the Davos conference. Seems to be directed toward the need you identify.

Water.org

[marinauser]

See here:

Rose-Hulman EWB Members Learn from the Pros | Engineers Without Borders RHIT

here:

Engineers Without Borders RHIT

here:

Students Cross Global Horizons - 2012 - Academics - News | Rose-Hulman

[pops]

Check texasbaptistmen.org. They have a clean water ministry with simple inexpensive, but extremely effective, I.e. .5 micron filtering.

[obgyn65]

Thank you omni. Very helpful links.

Quote:

Originally Posted by omni550 ob gyn, Are you familiar with Dr. Paul Polak, a retired Canadian psychiatrist (and author of "Out of Poverty") who has done a lot of work on helping improve the overall quality of life for people living in poverty around the world thru enabling them access to water for crop irrigation, potable drinking water, etc.? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/he...anted=all&_r=0 Paul Polak - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia His organization has spent a lot of time and effort in working to solve problems of the extreme poor. Perhaps contacting him/them might give you some useful info and leads. omni

[obgyn65]

I never thought about these. Thank you, travelover.

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover Have you seen these organizations? They might be a good reference or recommend another more appropriate resource. IWA - IWA Thematic Programmes http://www.gvsu.edu/haitiwater/susta...r-haiti-13.htm

[obgyn65]

Very good idea, thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gotadimple You may want to contact the Gates Foundation. They have worked with other NGOs to find low-tech solutions to potable water. They may be able to put you in touch with some of the organizations they support.

[obgyn65]

I would never have thought that Habitat for Humanity would support those types of projects. Thank you for another great find.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOLMAN I happened to sit next to a director of Habitat for Humanity on a long flight this week. He said HFH has a Clean Water Projects in Guatemala. Hope this helps. http://pensacolahabitat.org/wp-conte...er-Project.pdf Habitat for Humanity Guatemala | Habitat for Humanity Int'l

[obgyn65]

Yes. I have also seen that many people in communities prefer the taste of the water they are used to (i.e. from the river or the wells) rather the taste of purified water we had bought for them. It is going to take thousands of years to get them out of the poverty - malnutrition cycle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanbenito1 I agree with H2Oman that maintenance is key- otherwise it is effort down the drain. I worked on various engineering projects in Laos while a Navy Seabee and that was the first detail we worked out with village leaders. Maintenance funding and who gets it is also a sticky wicket...usually best left with an NGO

[obgyn65]

I will check this. Thank you, Gumby.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby I saw this organization mentioned in a story about Matt Damon at the Davos conference. Seems to be directed toward the need you identify. Water.org

[obgyn65]

Will do, thank you pops.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pops Check texasbaptistmen.org. They have a clean water ministry with simple inexpensive, but extremely effective, I.e. .5 micron filtering.

[obgyn65]

Thank you to all those who took the time to answer my post. Sharing ideas from different perspectives is why I remain part of this website community.