OT: How to bring drinking water to a village...

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

I don't know the particulars of the village geographically, but if there is a stream, there is probably a water table within reach. Technology for purifying surface water is the norm in the western world, but involves energy use and lots of concrete, plus or minus chemicals.
The obvious alternative is a well, the standard of water purification for millenia.
Wells are comonly used in Senegal, according to the interwebs.
Another consideration is, if the villagers are polluting their stream mainly with their own waste, education may mitigate if not solve the disease problem. More likely, domesticated animals are a significant part of the picture, and they need wells.

So I would say, if there are likely to be people involved who can bring money or know-how, dig a well. To get utility from a water tower I think you need electrification or daily diesel, unless you have a nice artesian situation.

Good luck! Even doing a little for people in need can help them a lot, short and long term, and infrastructure is usually the place to start.

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

Mike, yes it is very possible...not only possible, but doable. Actually a friend of mine's dad works with something like that..let me contact him and see how they are doing it. He's been doing that for at least 12-14 years now. Got his own patent and stuff.

I also found this link:
http://www.rsdsolar.de/indexen.html

using solar power to clean water. My german is pretty poor but I can give it a shot if you need translation.

or this:
http://pda.physorg.com/lofi-news-water-filters-simple_2737.html

sentone · Since 10 Feb 2006 66 Posts Â

not sure if you have fall or acess to fall ........or flow rates........but check out WATER RAMS or WATER HAMMERS.....moves water 24 7 uphill....or into a tank........filter water on the way out........cheap you can make with pvc and a hand full of plumbing odds and ends......lots of info online.....way old tech......no power needed.......

harriet · Since 10 Jun 2007 64 Posts Â

I also would suggest looking into ram pumps for moving the water. They rely on gravity to work, not wind, petrolium, sunshine, etc.

tywubbs · Since 26 Nov 2007 7 Posts Vancouver New Member

Nak:

I commend you for getting involved with this. I would suggest that you try teaming up with a group such as Water For People or similar when taking on a project like this. Each location has it's own specifics regarding treatment, pumping and so forth. Depending what this village is used to for a water source even basic filtration or disinfection maybe an enormous advancement in water quality for them. Even a basic well with a hand pump maybe a huge advancement if they are drawing directly from a river.

Generally speaking, the simpler you keep it, the better and longer it will work after the facilities have been built. My father, in his retirement, is working on bring piped water to several villages in Malawi. Water treatment for these villages consists of nothing more that several concrete clarifiers that are used to let the turbidity settle out. Is this to western standards? No. Is this a substantial improvement? yes. There are other challenges such as availability of materials - pipe, concrete, chlorine, etc. Social issues, i.e. working with village elders. He has gotten tied in with wth Rotary clubs to help fund his project.

Here is the link to Water For People
http://www.waterforpeople.org

You can see more details of the Malawi project on page 24 of this link.
http://www.pnws-awwa.org/Files/AWWAWINTER_2007.pdf

There is another article on a WFP project in Guatemala on page 42 of this link.
http://www.pnws-awwa.org/Files/AWWAspring08.pdf

As a water resources engineer, Good luck!

Tyler

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

Nak, have a look at what these folks are doing:

http://www.playpumps.org/site/c.hqLNIXOEKrF/b.2559311/k.7BCB/Playpumps_International_and_the_PlayPump_water_system_Kids_play_Water_Pumps.htm

It might not solve all the purification problems but it's a really cool idea nonetheless.

Nak · Mon Nov 17, 08 6:12 pm

Wow, thanks for all of the responses. This is a really great community. Thumb's Up

There are a lot of resources that you all found for me. I appreciate it a lot. I've got the information I needed to give the fund raising honchos direction with this project. Once they get organized I'll give y'all an update on what's going on and how ambitious the project will be.

Thanks again for all of your help!!!

nesterg · Since 10 Sep 2006 23 Posts Â

Here is a link to a development and relief organization and some ways they help with water shortages including a solar powered pump up to a storage tank. Also some water filtration ideas.

http://www.adra.org/site/DocServer/08-040_May_Water_Lift.pdf?docID=2601

sentone · Since 10 Feb 2006 66 Posts Â

forgot about the SLINGPUMP an age old ...no power water mover.....dosent need fall but uses current one moving part 50-50 air water 80 feet up or a mile side ways....nothing like a good glass of water..........good luck...