Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Minnesota
Simajhuleu, Guatemala
Uniting Water and People
Document 522
POST-ASSESSMENT REPORT
CHAPTER: University of Minnesota
COUNTRY: Guatemala
COMMUNITY: Simajhuleu
PROJECT: Uniting Water and People
PREPARED BY
John Frieseke, Manuel Orozco, Rebecca Pilkerton, Laura McDonald, Derrick Passe
Submittal Date
ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS-USA
www.ewb-usa.org
Post-Assessment Report Part 1 – Administrative Information
1.0 Contact Information
Name / Email / Phone / ChapterProject Leads / John Frieseke / / 775 2295425 / UMN
President / Lauren Butler / / 847 3457356 / UMN
Mentor #1 / Derrick Passe / / 763 2860570 / MN
Mentor #2 / Peter Glashagel / / 651 4682062 / MN
Faculty Advisor (if applicable) / Tim La Para / / 612 6246028 / UMN
Health and Safety Officer / Rebecca
Pilkerton / / 608 4694281 / UMN
Assistant Health and Safety Officer / Derrick Passe / / 763 2860570 / MN
NGO/Community Contact / Elizabeth Howland / / Long Way Home
Education Lead / Manuel
Orozco / / 559 9012192 / UMN
2.0 Travel History
Dates of Travel / Assessment or Implementation / Description of TripJanuary 5-12, 2008 / Assessment / Meet with Simajhuleu community. Discuss existing design for proposed water line. Explore alternative design options. Collect information on community, topography,
availability of water, water
quality, soil stability, ...
July 9-17, 2008 / Assessment / Survey Simajhuleu residents about water usage. Gather additional technical data about the existing water distribution
system.
Aug 23 –Sept, 2009 / Implementation / The construction of a 100,000L concrete rainwater cistern and supporting rainwater collection system for the school in Simajhuleu. Also training locals to be able to operate and maintain structures in future.
January 6-17, 2010 / Assessment / Investigation into possible
solutions the village wide
water problems with data
collection of multiple forms.
May 19- June 2,
2010 / Assessment / Continued data collection with regards to a solution for
Simajhuleu’s water system. Began addressing alternatives analysis with the village to determine a best possible design to move forward with but were interrupted by Tropical Storm Agatha.
August 24 – Sept 3, 2010 / Assessment / Completion of intended discussions from previous assessment. Reached an agreement with local officials responsibilities for a future implementation. Surveyed potential construction sites and obstacles.
3.0 Travel Team
Name / E-mail / Phone / Chapter / Student or ProfessionalLaura McDonald / mcdon509@umn
.edu / 920 3442456 / UMN / Student
Manuel Orozco / orozc014@umn.
edu / 559 9012192 / UMN / Student
Rebecca Pickerton / [email protected]
du / 608 4694281 / UMN / Student
Derrick Passe / passe027@umn.
edu / 763 2860570 / MN / Professional
4.0 Safety
4.1 Safety Incident Reports
No health and safety incidents
5.0 Budget
5.1 Cost
Expense / Total CostAirfare / 1978.80
On Ground / 609.51
Materials / 61.66
Other / 180.00
Total / 2829.97
6.0 Project Location
Longitude: -90.85
Latitude: 14.79
Post Assessment Report Part 2 – Technical Information
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This report serves to document the data gathered by EWB-UMN’s August 2010 assessment trip to Simajhuleu, Guatemala. Simajhuleu is a village of about 2,500 people located roughly 60 to 70 kilometers west northwest of Guatemala City between the cities of Comalapa and San Martin. Simajhuleu is located approximately 2,000 meters above sea level in a mountainous region and has a more temperate than tropical climate. The estimated 500 families in Simajhuleu live in mud brick houses with tin roofs and a tap for water. Simajhuleu’s water distribution consists of three springs, Panules, Pescados, and Patziaq. All three sources originate outside of the village and are piped into a primary distribution tank feeding five of the six sectors throughout the village. A separated secondary tank feeds the last of the six sectors called Las Minas. This Las Minas tank is fed by a small splitter box splitting the Pescados spring between the primary and secondary tanks.
Currently, the main concern in the village is inconsistent water distribution. The assessment trip was organized as an extension of the incomplete assessment trip in May 2010 and was based upon three main objectives: additional data collection, addressing issues of distribution with the village’s governing body, and verifying the viability of the proposed water line. We also intended to inspect the rainwater harvesting project. The data collected included flow measurements, survey data, and future implementation site assessment. The issues addressed helped to better understand how the system works, what changes are socially acceptable and how practical and sustainable this possible solution is. Our project's main goal is to provide the village of Simajhuleu with an improved water distribution system by integrating solutions that are both effective and acceptable to the community.
This report makes reference to a "proposed design." The technical details and justification of that design will be included in the pre-implementation report to be submitted before October 14th 2010. The system analysis of this assessment trip provided us the last bits of information needed for construction in sector 5 of Simajhuleu.
2.0 PROGRAM BACKGROUND
The village of Simajhuleu, Guatemala currently receives all of its water from a set of mountain springs approximately 10 km away. A single PVC pipe transports this water from the spring to the village. The pipe is decades old and open to the elements, meaning it is in constant need of repair. Additionally, the water distribution system in the village only provides the villagers water once every three days, and depending on the location of the house, sometimes not at all. After several assessment trips, a rainwater harvesting system and a ferro-cement cistern were constructed at the primary school in the village. This rainwater harvesting system had three objectives. The first objective was to provide 130,000 gallons of potable water to the 500 children at the school. The second, to depressurize the distribution system which suffers from high levels of static head. Lastly, it served as a prototype to show the villagers the value and sustainability of rainwater harvesting.
Following the implementation in August '09 an assessment was conducted in January of '10. Our chapter has transitioned our focus to the distribution system of the village since that time. The assessment’s goal was to collect hydrological data on the village’s distribution system, engage in educational projects with the community and finalize the past implementation facilities. In many respects, the January '10 assessment gave the student groups the chance to move past the confines of the school and get an overall picture of the condition of the village. This assessment was a resounding success in most respects. We were unable to complete the total station survey but this was not a surprise due to the size and terrain of the village. The total station survey collected over 1100 survey points and was able to cover every house, road and potential developable area within approximately 75% of the village. Along the way we left behind markers in anticipation on a second survey trip in order to incorporate the two quickly and simply.
In the May 2010 assessment trip we completed the survey data. On the same trip the rainwater harvesting system was augmented to keep ronrones(june bugs) from entering the tank. Unfortunately, there were some severe storms while we were in Guatemala, and we were unable to return to Simajhuleu for the remainder of the trip. We also had an extensive meeting with the Water Board of the village to discus what we have done, what we were doing at the time, and what possible plans there are for the future. This meeting was intended to be a first of two meetings. This first meeting focused on the results of our previous assessment and the work we have done in investigating alternatives since then. We also wanted to hear from them what type of system they would like to have.
3.0 TRIP DESCRIPTION
3.1 Community Agreement
Two meetings were held with officials of Simajhuleu. The first meeting consisted mainly of the points we wished to cover in the last trip, but were unable to as a result of road closures. The topics covered included, a description of EWB operations, the requirements for approval from EWB-USA, the rainwater harvesting system, and finally an explanation of the proposed design. The second meeting was an opportunity for the COCODE to voice their opinion on the proposed design after having the weekend to look it over as a group. They approved our project and signed the MOU (Appendix A). The next step is for the COCODE to receive permission for construction from all affected land owners.
3.2 Survey of Proposed Water Main Alignment
The alignment of the proposed water main improvements was walked multiple times during the Assessment Trip. GPS Tracks were made of the proposed alignment and way points were marked for the pressure reduction box locations. Generally, the new water main will parallel the existing distribution system. Minor deviations from the distribution system will be used to avoid thick brush, to take advantage of a road crossing over a stream. The water main in these locations will follow a road which was constructed after the distribution system was installed. Major deviations from the distribution network alignment will occur at two locations. The initial pressure reduction box will be installed approximately 100 meters horizontal and 15 meters above the location of the existing valves controlling water distribution into the three water sectors of the Village. In order to reduce pipe length and avoid installation of pipe in agricultural fields, the water main and new water distribution line for sector 5 will follow a trail that heads east from the existing water main and rejoining the existing water distribution system alignment at the road that proceeds downhill to the soccer field. The second major deviation of the water main from the existing water distribution line begins downstream from Pressure Break Box #3. The original water distribution line was formerly connected to Sector 6 at this location, so it crosses the stream and heads uphill toward sector 6 before taking a right angle turn toward sector 5. The proposed water main will proceed directly across the intervening valley to rejoin the existing alignment at a point just before a group of homes. This realignment was suggested by the Village Plumber and will save approximately 50 meters of pipe. The low point of this alignment is approximately 32 meters below the pressure break tank resulting in a pressure of 50 psi, well within the working range of the proposed water main.
Connection to Existing System - Short segments of pipe will be connected to the existing water distribution system. Valves will be installed just upstream of these connections to separate the different pressure zones. In the lowest pressure zone, an additional connection will be made into the existing system by running a new line to connect into the line at a point 180 meters NW of the pressure break box. This will create a loop in the system and also increase the amount of water that can enter the distribution system from the pressure break tank.
Location of Pressure Break Boxes - In order to increase access to the pressure boxes and reduce conflict with property owners, the village has asked that pressure break boxes 2,3 and 4 be located within the existing road/path.
Alteration of Current System - The existing valves that control distribution of water main to the three water sectors (1-2, 3-4 and 5) are currently located adjacent to an existing home. The property owner has requested that the village move these valves to allow him to fully utilize his property. It is proposed that these valves be moved uphill so that they are adjacent to Pressure Break Tank #1. The existing 2 1/2 inch line can be used to serve sectors 1-2 and a new line would be constructed to serve sectors 3 and 4. The existing 2 inch water meter would be moved to a point uphill of the Pressure Break Tank.
3.3 Rainwater Harvesting System Inspection
The rainwater harvesting system was found to be functioning but with some problems. Specifically, a section of pipe was missing and there was some damage to the T's on either side. According to the villagers the pipe had fallen once and been replaced and then fallen a second time and broken. According to them the rebar they had installed at EWB direction to support the first flush system was pulling loose from cement and therefore unable to support the first flush system. Without adequate support the first flush then bowed the system and caused the pipe to come loose. We observed evidence of damage to the cement and the first flush in question is now supported with wire wrapped around the post.
Additionally, three of the first flush systems were missing their caps, two within the school and one on the outside wall of the school. The cap on the first flush system outside the school, near the puesto de salud (health clinic), had never been installed by EWB, but was installed during this assessment trip. Upon our arrival we also found several of the first flush systems to be full of water rather than properly draining. Small roughage had clogged the holes through which they drain, this problem was easily rectified by cleaning out the hole. We also spoke with oficials at the school and explained to them the importance of the first flush system draining and how to prevent it from clogging in the future.
Problems were also found with the power switch for the pump, it would not stay on reliably and often had to be held manually. There was also a lot of vibration within the switch causing it to be quite noisy. This power switch was installed by an electrician hired by the villagers and at their directions. Despite these minor problems the tank was found to be approximately one meter from full and the villagers were generally satisfied with its function.
In addition to our survey of the tank we met with El Comité Consejo De Padres, an elected committee who will be responsible for the maintenance of the system. We discussed the RWH systems operation and maintenance with a representative of the committee and gave him a copy of the O&M and a presentation on the system.