The Western Michigan University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB WMU) is currently designing a water filtration and distribution system for the San Antonio de Upa community in Nicaragua. This system will impact an estimated 300 lives in the community by providing clean, easily accessible water for generations to come. A team of students from EWB WMU traveled to the community on an assessment trip in December of 2017, hoping to change the world–one small village at a time. The students were warmly welcomed by the farmer who owned a local coffee farm, the main employer in the village, who opened the doors of his home to them. The students surveyed about 40 homes, measured water usage, and tested water from the tap that brought water to the entire village. The collected data is being used to design the system that will be built during a future implementation trip.
Emma Dubensky, president of the EWB WMU, volunteered to work on the international project because she wanted to help the community we are partnered with in Nicaragua. "Clean accessible water can make a huge impact on any group of people, and I wanted to use my skills and abilities to help make that happen," she said. "Engineers Without Borders has allowed me to develop as a student engineer, but also make a greater impact through service and engineering."
The system will filter local spring water through a concrete spring-box using aggregate filters. A pipe network connected to the spring-box will pass water through an in-line chemical filter and feed the filtered water into storage tanks. The centralized holding tanks will be connected to a distribution system that will supply in-home and public taps throughout the community. Overall, the system will allow community members access to adequate and consistent amounts of clean water in close proximity to their homes.
Since the chapter is responsible for covering 95% of the construction costs, fundraising is absolutely essential to mobilization and implementation of the project. The proposed system is estimated to cost $21,000, and we hope you consider helping the students reach this goal. Your 100% tax-deductible donation will be used to aid in the purchasing of all the required materials, labor, and travel costs associated with the project. All donations are received through EWB's donation service at the link below. No donation is too small to make a difference.
Contact: ewb.wmich@gmail.com