Providing Access to Clean Water
Community Clean Water Access
Advisors: Robert Traver
Adele Werner, Bailey Sweet, Phillip Konyeaso
The project studied water quality and supply in Cerrito, Paraguay. The study included three groups: the Junta de Saneamiento, the local water board, Qom communities, and the Escuela Agrícola. Home test kits assessed water quality in ten wells managed by these groups. The team produced schematics of the water pipelines systems of both the Junta de Saneamiento and the Escuela Agrícola, a maintenance guide for the Junta de Saneamiento, and provided new pump equipment for two Qom communities. Recommendations include: retest water quality at three sites, conduct periodic water system cleaning, and modernize the Junta de Saneamiento system though the addition of water meters and the development of a centralized system.
Water Demand in Cerro Patacón: Census Team
Advisors: James Chiarelli
Sarah Ann O’Grady, James Whelan, David Myles Robinson, Ian Alexander Taylor
Unusual weather patterns and the rapid urbanization of Panamá City have stressed Panamá’s ability to provide water to citizens. Those most affected are developing communities outside the city, where problems with the water utility IDAAN mean an inconsistent supply of potable water. This project’s goal was to assist IDAAN by developing a rationing plan to supply adequate water to each community. We successfully determined the population of each community by compiling and analyzing previously collected demographic information and by gathering new census information. Another IQP team gathered topographical information, and together we developed and presented the rationing plan to stakeholders.
Oteima Batipa Water Sustainability
Advisors: James Chiarelli
Nathaniel David DeSisto, Domenica G. Ferrero, Marcelino J. Puente-Perez, Panagiotis Argyrakis
Comprehending the potential and abundance in the Chiriquí providence, Batipa Field Institute (BFI), believes it would be beneficial to install a rainwater harvesting (RWH) system. This project focuses on proposing a RWH system for BFI, while creating an educational, cost-effective model applicable for the Panamanian public. This was accomplished through exploring Panama’s relationship with the environment and sustainability, communication with other biological research stations, and finally formulating our findings into a model using AutoCAD 2019.
WPI Liquid Life
Advisors: Aaron R. Sakulich
Kory J. Girouard, Corrado M. Addonisio, Cesar E. Rodriguez
Many countries occupied with human life experience clean water scarcity. Engineers from all around try to find a solution to this epidemic before it can be inhabitable. Liquid Life is a project team consisting of two architectural engineers and one mechanical engineer, all juniors, currently attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute. This report entails the water crisis at hand, the research we conducted on engineers whose projects were implemented and are currently operating, as well as engineers and their projects that have failed for one reason or another. With this compiled information we constructed a report and a pamphlet with guidelines for, but not restricted to, engineers who are interested in implementing water sanitation systems or any projects of the same assisting nature.
Reducing the vulnerability of chemical contamination in Worcester drinking water
Advisors: Susan Vernon-Gerstenfeld, Robert W. Thompson
Kevin E. Manelski, Joseph Marturano, Michael Stephen Benz
The goal of our project was to provide recommendations to the Worcester City Council members and the Water Division employees to reduce the overall risk of drinking water contamination. We used first-hand observations, interviews, case studies, and public records to determine the most vulnerable areas of the drinking water system. These areas included land use, water treatment, water distribution, emergency procedures, department budgeting and a water quality comparison between Worcester and similar towns. Then we developed cost-effective recommendations to reduce the risk of a contamination. This report aims to improve public safety by preventing such an incident from occurring.