Rice University Engineers Without Borders

Mexico Water Project

In May of 2004, the Mexico team successfully completed its first implementation trip in Piedritas, Mexico. On the seven day trip, the team installed a powerful solar powered water pump in the community's water well as well as a PVC water distribution system. The new water pump increased the well's flow rate three fold, drastically increasing the community's available water supply. The water distribution network, through a distribution header, and a series of valves, allowed for water to be piped to each of the houses in the community. Both of these improvements increased the availability of water and the ease of access to water. After completing the first phase of the project, the team decided to focus on designing and implementing a purification system to address the water contamination issues in the community. The community's water is highly contaminated with bacteria and has an elevated and unhealthy level of fluoride present. The team is currently in the process of designing a trial purification system for the community's school that will disinfect the water as well as remove the fluoride. The team hopes to travel to the community in January of 2006 to implement this system.

El Salvador
Project

Mexico
Project

Nicaragua 1
Project

Nicaragua 2
Project

Organizational Structure

How Rice-EWB Works