WATER STEWARDSHIP

Providing clean water and hope to the Phalombe district of Malawi, Africa.

ABSTRACT To provide safe drinking water sources, water storage systems, and hygiene and sanitation awareness to the Phalombe district of Malawi, funding is requested to create a Coca-Cola Foundation RAIN project. The water stewardship project would restore old wells and provide new ones, construct multiple rain catchment systems, and fabricate filtration stations for the people of the Phalombe district.

Richard J Munn To The Coca-Cola Foundation English 317

Overview of Project & Objectives Currently, 780 million people lack access to clean, safe drinking water, and of those 3.4 million people die each year from water related diseases1. Unfortunately, 44% of the people in the world that lack clean water are found in Africa, and one such community is the Phalombe district of Malawi1,2. This project will bring new sources of clean water to 6,500 people in the area along with educational workshops, hygiene and sanitation training2. The district will be surveyed to find ideal sources of water for well installation, along with restoring pre-existing wells where the water quality has deteriorated over time. Clean water projects have been appearing across Africa at an exponential rate in the last few years. Organizations such as The Water Project, Engineers Without Boarders, and even The Coca-Cola Foundations own Project RAIN (Replenish Africa Initiative) have been providing clean water, sanitation, and better living conditions to the communities in Africa1,3,4. Projects that are pursuing cleaner water for African people are using innovative approaches to improve the lives of the community members. One of the purest sources of water isnt collected from the ground but from the rain. Rain catchment systems collect rain runoff from buildings. Unfortunately, a substantial amount of water is lost during rain, though what little water that runs off building are collected in gutters then deposited into a central water tank capable of holding up to 100,000 liters of water5,6. The system is very simple, cost effective, and last for many years. It is important to collect rain water for future use such as agriculture use during dry seasons and clean drinking water during well maintenance among other situations where water access might not be available immediately5,6. Another project being pursued is bringing filtration stations to the communities4. For community members that wont live close to water wells or even storage systems, purification systems will be produced so that unclean water can be poured into an inlet, filtered through a series of filters, and deposit clean drinking water from a spigot. This will provide people a way to filter water that they have available if a well access isnt close enough to the community. Our objectives are to form a partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation to bring a RAIN project to the Phalombe district of Malawi to improve the lives of the community by providing long term sources of clean water, hygiene awareness, and healthier lives. Our organization requests $120,000 to bring the communities together and assist them in building better lives for themselves by using community engagement, outside volunteers, and native contractors. Figure 1: Finished well pump.

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Literature Review Importance As a chemical engineering and chemistry student, chemical purification is a fundamental concept we learn. However, one of the most important uses of purification is the treatment of contaminated water into safe water. Today, millions of people go without clean drinking water which is essential for healthy lives1,2,4,7. Regions of the world (such as Africa, Central America, the Middle East, and Asia) dont have access to safe water, and the habitants sometimes must travel miles each day to collect clean water1,7,9. Drinking water is an important resource to produce. The amount of fresh water on the planet is finite due to all the salt, sediments, and contaminants found ocean water and other bodies of water, thus the need to recycle and purify water1,7,8,10. In Africa, poverty has become an epidemic resulting from political instability, ethnic conflicts, climate change, and even from the lack of clean drinking water1,7. Women and even children will travel to the nearest source of water and will wait in line till it is their turn to fill their containers with the dirty water4,9. It is common for women to travel miles to the nearest source of water and will experience back pain earlier in life, stress to the spine, and even can be subjected to harassment or sexual assault7. With a nearby water source, the risk can be minimized and will free time for the women to pursue opportunities and children wont be late to school and they can earn their education to improve their community in the future1,7,10. Currently, 3.4 million people die each year from water related disease (i.e. the population of the city of Los Angeles)1. Unfortunately, a child dies from water related-illnesses every 21 seconds, a majority of those illnesses are born from fecal matter contaminants1,7. Under 22% of children under the age of 14 without access to safe water die1. The leading cause of death for children under 5 is diarrhea obtained from water-borne illnesses; which is more than AIDS, measles, and malaria combined7. Water-borne diseases generate from trace amounts of Escherichia coli (E. coli), salmonella typhi, schistosoma, vibrio cholera, and hepatitis A that are commonly found in contaminated water7. Other Organizations & Projects Water is needed for everyone and not all areas possess access to drinking water. Water purification is important in recycling and processing contaminated water into clean drinking water. Because of this fact there are many organizations that work on raising funds and providing water

Figure 2: Bacteria and viruses found in contaminated drinking water.

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stewardship projects in order to provide access of clean water to communities in these regions. These groups include Water.org, The Water Project, Water for Life, Engineers Without Borders, UNICEF, Pepsi Co., WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), and many more organizations. According to The Water Project, an average of $23 can bring a source of clean water to a person in communities without access to water10. The Coca-Cola Africa Foundations flagship program RAIN has been promoting healthier and happier lives in 35 of 55 African countries in order to provide 2 million people with safe water by 2015. So far the sustainability program provided 1 million people with clean water access, empowered women, and given back to the communities of Africa since 20094,9. Our stewardship proposal is to help further Coca-Colas goal by educating, engaging with, and building the communities within the Phalombe district of Malawi. The Water Project is a group (similar to The Coca-Cola Foundation and many others) that has been working continuously in Africa to bring safe drinking water and sanitation projects to communities without access1. With almost every project, The Water Project brings in local hydro-geologists to perform local surveys for the well instillations11. An example of a rain catchment system to capture rain running off buildings is the 100,000 liter water tank installed in Nzatani in Kenya for 600 people3. Furthermore, The Water Project hold educational workshop for the community members to learn ways to conserve water, proper sanitation and hygiene methods and tips, and how to maintain the new systems being installed10.

Figure 3: Completed Nzatani Water Project -Rain Catchment

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Design & Methodology A hydro-geographic survey of the district will be performed while the volunteers and workers introduce themselves to the communities within the Phalombe district of Malawi. Existing wells will be recorded along with ideal locations for new wells. As we rotate from community to community the projects will happen as follows:

1. Project introduction to community. 2. Hydro-geographical survey. 3. Prepare and setup for sanitation and

hygiene workshops, filtration systems, and placement of rain catchment tanks.

4. Initiate workshops and construction of filtration systems.

5. Begin well and rain harvesting projects. 6. Work with community over a two week

period, install and test filtration systems. 7. Test wells and water harvesting systems. 8. Spend day with community once projects

are finished for photos, ribbon cutting and other events.

9. Pack up and hand over all projects to the community for long term maintenance.

Sanitation and Hygiene Workshops The water supply in Africa isnt only a source of drinking water, it is also a source of cleaning water4. The dirty water they drink is also their source of cleaning water for not only them but for their dishes, clothes, and homes4. Dishes are rinsed and scrubbed off using washcloths then are placed in areas unsuitable for dishes (i.e. floor, dirty counters, etc.)1. One part of the workshops would teach the locals about the dangers of digesting food off their kitchenware but, in addition, have them create drying racks for their dishes1. Other workshops will cover a range of topics such as the importance of washing hands before and after meals1. Each workshop should only cost $100 for materials. Wells Drilling boreholes for the wells are the easy part, costing from a couple hundred dollars up to $20,000 per well11,12,13,14. Our goal is to bring three new wells for $5,000 to $10,000 (average of $7,000 for each) with a local company called Water Drilling Contractors Ltd Malawi13,14. Then to restore any other wells that have collapsed or require additional drilling for a deeper hole, $2,000 each. Construction of each well will last several days and will take another 10 days for the concrete platform to thoroughly set11,12. A hand pump system will be utilized at every well so water and

Figure 4: Schematic of common wells in water projects

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energy is not needlessly wasted and in order to promote sustainability within the district. While the concrete is setting, workshops will be performed to educate the community about sustainable water use and well maintenance. We are planning ahead in case of any setbacks with the wells, particularly collapses or otherwise. This way the budget will be cushioned in case of an unforeseen situation2. Rain Catchment Rain harvesting systems capture the water that run off roofs and stored into a large containment system usually made of concrete. The collection system prevents the loss of runoff water from large buildings such as schools or other community structures and is stored until future need, such as dry weather during crop season or well maintenance3,5. A simple filter system will be installed in the piping to purify the water and separate any particulates that are collected from the roof. On average, the cost of a 100,000 liter water tank is $6,000 plus $2,000 for skilled labor. Filtration Systems Purification stations will be built during workshops while the rain harvesting systems and the wells are setting. A total of 6 systems will be built for the community members that wont live close to any of the 6 wells or 3 rain collection tanks. The systems will be a simple four foot tall 15 gallon open-top water tank (with removable lid to keep extra particulates out) with a pipe in the bottom leading to a filter then to a spigot. The estimated cost for producing one station is $150.

Preparation Our organization Engineers Without Boarders has been working on the workshops, the materials required, and the sequence of events once we arrive in Malawi. Currently, we have selected all nine volunteers to accompany the advisor and team lead Dr. Wudneh Admassu. Due to his efforts in membrane filters and work in chemical and materials engineering, Dr. Wudneh was selected as the lead and advisor to the project. Because of his experience with large projects, our group has been prepared by Dr. Wudneh to plan each project, perform a cost analysis, and assume which setbacks and errors can occur during the project and how can we fix them while were there. A major problem with existing water stewardship projects is that they fail. According to Charity: Water, Over 50 percent of all water projects fail and less than five percent of projects are visited, and far less than one percent have any longer-term monitoring.7 In addition, a Phalombe fund has been set up in advance for donations. The money will be invested with interest and accessed only when maintenance is required on any of the projects. Furthermore, our organization will sponsor two people every spring for the next five years to perform in person checks of the systems and with the leaders of the district to ensure this project will continue.

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Budget Below is our estimated budget for the entire project based on current prices and water projects throughout Africa. With a group of 10 people staying for 45 days while being paid $9.00 an hour (in compliance that no person be paid over $10 an hour) is $24,200. With 3 wells being renovated and 3 newly installed, a total of $48,000 is estimated. At $8,000 for each rain harvester, our estimated total is $24,000 while the workshops and filtration stations cost approximately $11,000. An overall total (without cushion) is $107,188. With possible setbacks, our requested total for the 3 projects to provide water to the 6,500 people in the Phalombe district is $120,000.2

Estimated Budget Price Per Total

Flight (round trip) for # of Volunteers: 10 $ 1,500.00 $ 15,000.00 Hotel (30 days + 15 housed) 30 $ 250.00 $ 7,500.00 Pay (dollars per hour) $ 9.00 $ 1,687.50

Wells

Quantity Price Per Total New Installations 3 $ 10,000.00 $ 30,000.00 Maintenance 3 $ 2,000.00 $ 6,000.00 Skilled Labor 6 $ 2,000.00 $ 12,000.00

Rain Catchment

Quantity Price Per Total Materials 3 $ 6,000.00 $ 18,000.00 Skilled Labor 3 $ 2,000.00 $ 6,000.00

Filtration Systems

Quantity Price Per Total Materials (filters, open drums, etc.) 6 $ 150.00 $ 900.00 Tools (rented or loaned) 2 $ 50.00 $ 100.00

Sanitation & Hygiene Workshops

Quantity Price Per Total Materials 1000 $ 10.00 $ 10,000.00

Total Estimated $ 107,187.50 Cushion and Possible Setbacks $ 12,812.50 Funding Requested $ 120,000.00

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References 1. Water.org,. (1990). Water.org. Retrieved 16 April 2014, from http://water.org/

2. Waterwellsforafrica.org,. (2012). Uthwa : Water Wells For Africa. Retrieved from http://waterwellsforafrica.org/uthwa/

3. The Water Project,. (2008). Project: Nzatani. Retrieved from http://thewaterproject.org/nzatani

4. The Coca-Cola Company,. (2012). Water for Africa. Retrieved from http://www.coca-colacompany.com/rain/

5. The Water Project,. (2014). How Rain Catchment Systems Works. Retrieved from http://thewaterproject.org/rain_catchment

6. Waterwellsforafrica.org,. (2014). Technology : Water Wells For Africa. Retrieved from http://waterwellsforafrica.org/technology/

7. IRISHMIKE, I. (2012). Access to Clean and Safe Water THE FACTS. Retrieved 21 March 2014, from http://www.irishmikesmith.com/access-to-clean-and-safe-water-the-facts/

8. Face2FaceAfrica,. (2011). Organization of the Week: FACE Africa | Face2FaceAfrica. Retrieved 22 April 2014, from http://face2faceafrica.com/article/organization-of-the-week-face-africa

9. The Water Stewardship and Replenish Report (2012). In The Coca-Cola Company. Retrieved April 22, 2014

10. The Water Project,. (2014). Give Water - The Water Project. Retrieved 22 March 2014, from http://thewaterproject.org/

11. The Water Project,. (2014). Install a Well at a Water Project. Retrieved from http://thewaterproject.org/installing-the-well

12. Waterwellsforafrica.org,. (2014). How To Build A Well : Water Wells For Africa. Retrieved from http://waterwellsforafrica.org/how-to-build-a-well-2/

13. Waterwellsforafrica.org,. (2014). Whats The Cost : Water Wells For Africa. Retrieved from http://waterwellsforafrica.org/whats-the-cost/

14. Water Drilling Contractors Ltd - Malawi,. (2012). About Us. Retrieved 21 March 2014, from http://wdcmw.com/about-us/

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Overview of Project & ObjectivesLiterature ReviewDesign & MethodologyPreparationBudgetReferences