EWB BU Project: Water Filtration

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Demonstrated Need

Findings

The pre-assessment trip in January 2008 was crucial for identifying some of the most concerning issues in the community of Chirimoto. On its way to Chirimoto the Shocol River passes through other mountain communities that contribute to the contamination. Drinking water is piped from streams higher up the mountain. Changes in the weather and runoff are known to increase contamination in nearby waterways. Much of the community knows that boiling water will reduce contaminates, but few do. Currently Chirimoto has a network of pipes in place in most homes in the valley. Some of the village members reported that the piping should be replaced in certain segments.

Common Illnesses Flu Fever Vomiting Diarrhea Typhoid

Testimonials

Interview 1: Medical Tech

    The most prevalent health issue is parasitic infection. He estimates that all the children in Chirimoto are hosts to parasites as well as much of the adult population.  The source of  the parasites is water, both from the river and tap, as well as hook worms, which many children obtain as a result of often forgoing footwear.  
    Although many people know it is beneficial to boil the tap water, very few engage in this inconvenient practice. Parasitic infections results in stomach issues, most notably diarrhea.  Although the doctor is able to give these patients medicine, it is not a continuous treatment and therefore does not prevent re-infection. 

Interview 2: Bullets from Women's Town Meeting

• Water supply is not clean enough for drinking
  
• Water purification should be done by engineers because now there is piped water from tanks that are kept up by a man from Chirimoto
  
• There is no water purification system in place
  
• People don’t usually drink river water, but it does happen among the children
  
• Often people (especially children) drink the water without boiling it first
  

Decision Justification

Among other worthwhile projects, EWB-BU and its members deem the water purification project to have higher priority over the other projects for the following reasons:

• Water purification would have a direct impact on the quality of health
• Water purification would benefit the entire community equally
• There is much documentation on water purification projects and systems that are easy to maintain
• The project addresses an issue that is widespread in the country of Peru and for such the regional government has expressed an interest in funding and implementing our design in other communities

Objectives of the Project

Links:

EWB-BU Offical Project Page (EWB-USA)
World Health Organization: Slow Sand Filtration.
Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group: Water Projects.