Rice University Engineers Without Borders

Project Location:

El Pital, El Salvador

Project Highlights:

May 2004: Implemented a new solar pump that increased water availability by 3 times
May 2004: Constructed a PVC distribution system that provides water to every home in the community
March 2006: Constructed pilot biosand filter in community school.
October 2006: Tested biosand filter efficiency: 100% removal of E-coli & coliform.
March 2007 and January 2008: Constructed several biosand filters with the community. Conducted sanitation education for both adults and children.

The El Salvador Water Project

Project Summary:

In January 2005, the El Salvador team completed the final two phases, solar powered lighting and water purification, of a 3-year long project in the community of La Ceiba. The result of the project provided the 800 residents of the community with increased access to cleaner water. With the completion of the La Ceiba project, the team started a new relationship and project in the community of El Pital.

El Pital is a community of about 300 people and is situated on the side of a hill. When we began the relationship, the community relied on two sources for water. Most of the houses paid ANDA, the state sponsored water monopoly, $7 a month, which is a heavy financial burden. The rest of the community used highly contaminated springs for all of their water needs. During the winter, the upper springs run dry, and residents at the top of the hill are forced to walk down the hill to get water from public taps and carry it back up the steep road to their homes every day.

The goal of our project is to provide water in every house in the community. The project consists of four main phases. First, water for the top half of the community will be pumped into a water storage tank at the top of the community. The water for the lower half of the community will flow to a second storage tank near the spring. From these tanks, water will be distributed to central points in the community, and families can make connections to their homes from these points. The final stage will be to implement a water purification system to reduce the negative health effects due to contaminated water in the community.

In May 2007, the team traveled to El Pital to construct a 40,000 liter water storage tank for the upper half of the community and to survey the area for potential piping paths.

After the completion of the project, the community will be in charge of the maintenance of the system. An existing water board will be in charge of collecting funds to provide for its upkeep.

The next trip to El Pital will be in March 2008. The goal for that trip will be to conduct soil and geographical surveys to prepare for the implementation of the 20,000 liter storage tank in May.

Project Leaders: Claire Krebs, Shannon Moore