Engineers Without Borders - UIC

Cerro Alto & Labor De Falla, Guatemala
The current project involves the same community of Cerro Alto, Guatemala in collaboration with the neighboring community of Labor de Falla. While working on our first project in Cerro Alto we noticed many other problems that affect the villages. Major problems include potentially unsafe drinking water, rampant waste water, exposed and poorly wired electrical grid, & garbage issues, among others. A health assessment was completed during our 2007 implementation trip by Professor Steven Lacey from the UIC School of Public Health. After analysis of the health report and extensive evaluation of the problems in Cerro Alto, it was decided that the next project would focus on the water supply of the community. Several community members have also expressed concern about the quality of their drinking water. There are many issues that accompany water projects, but we believe the trust developed through our first project will encourage the cooperation of all involved parties.

Currently the water supply for Cerro Alto Labor de Falla is provided by a well & pump that draws the water from an underground aquifer to the top of a central hill in between the two villages. The water is then gravity-fed to each home three times a week, with distribution times rotating between the villages.

EWB-UIC made our first assessment trip concerning the water project in January 2008 to gather more information about the current water quality. A total of 50 sites were tested and 98 samples were brought back home to test in the Environmental Engineering Lab under the instruction of Professor of Civil and Materials Engineering Amid Khodadoust, and Professor Steven Lacey.

Design alternatives were evaluated and a sole chlorine treatment solution was chosen. Two more assessment trips were made in October 2008 and January 2009 to obtain quantitative bacteria counts. We completed a very methodical testing of Cerro Alto & Labor De Falla's water distribution system. With the results we hope to narrow the source of contamination to specific distribution lines or certain types of end-user containers or storage habits. We will travel back in May to implement, whether that means the installation of a chlorine injection system or the improvement of the community's current chlorine tablet system. We will also start the education plan, improve main tank security, and begin addressing the multiple points of contamination.

Sincerely,
EWB-UIC
Engineers Without Borders
University of Illinois at Chicago Chapter

List of files:
View the presentation on our first assessment trip HERE
View the Water Quality Improvement senior design presentation HERE
The design report can be viewed HERE