Thailand| Thailand |
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The main goal of this project is to provide a clean supply of water to the community. This will require fixing of an existing water system and education of locals to encourage them to use the cleaner of two water sources. Additionally, the second phase consists of analyzing the local soil nutrient gradient in order to determine the best locations to implement private wells.
Student Lead: David Pal -
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Background: This village has running water pumped from the ground, however it is not drinkable. The village used to use well water (5 – 7 meters from the surface) but the water quality was poor and had an odor. They then drilled down 44 meters for water. This water smelled even worse and turned their white laundry yellow. They then drilled down 88 meters below the surface. This water does not have an odor, however, when left running, black particles will collect on the sides of the buckets or whatever container the water is contained in. When this water is boiled, white residue will form on the insides of the pots. The water cannot be used for drinking or cooking, which forces the villagers to purchase bottled water. They do, however, use this water to bathe themselves and to wash their clothes and dishes because they have no other choice. The water turns their white clothes yellow. This water has never been tested. No one from the local clinics or government has ever come to investigate the water situation in this village. Given the three (or more) potential sources of water for this village, there is much potential for remediation. After an assessment trip, it was found that the the 88 meter well has a high level of manganese and iron. The 44 meter well is no longer in commission. Detailed Project Description:
A community of 143 households, Nong Bua is comprised predominantly of people of the Khon Muang (northern Thai) ethnicity. The jobs held by the people of Nong Bua are primarily informal and range from farming to selling goods. The average income per household is around 40,000 Baht ($US 1,270) per year, which implies that there would be much benefit in reducing dependence on costly bottled water. The water in this area has never been tested and no one from the local clinics or government has come to evaluate the water in Nong Bua. The general health outlook for the community is positive. There has been no recent reporting of infant mortality, and it is suspected that people are not getting ill from the water (since they avoid drinking it). Generally, giardia is prevalent and illnesses such as cold, flu and stomachache are reported by the local clinic. It appears that the introduction of a simple, low-cost water purification system would have positive results on public health and economics. With the help of a local NGO called Warm Heart, we will be well positioned to take on this project. The NGO has a good working relationship with the local government and can help us communicate with local health and economic officials. Furthermore, they will provide us with necessary translators and accommodations to facilitate this project. |
In the village of Nong Bua, acquiring potable water has been a chronic problem. The members of this small village have attempted to address this issue by pumping ground water and drilling progressively deeper wells, to no avail. Due to various observed deficiencies in the water quality, none of these attempts has been adequate and villagers are forced to purchase bottled water for drinking, with well water used only for washing clothes or dishes and bathing.