ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS-NICA II

The Wiscoyol Water Project aimed to provide ready access to potable water to the rural community of Sector 2, Wiscoyol, Nicaragua. There were about 350 members in the community, and they obtained water manually via an old, shallow well. Getting to this well was difficult for some community members, as the walk took up to fifteen minutes and involved crossing a dangerous highway. Furthermore, the well did not provide ample quantities of water to the community, and the water it provided had measurable levels of cholera and E. coli.

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My team aimed to solve these problems by designing and implementing an automated water distribution system that pumped water from a clean source and distributed it to tap stands near community members' houses. In order to save lives and give clean water to the community, I led the tank team in collaborations for concrete foundation designs, reinforcement calculations, communication with tank suppliers, and harnessing calculations. For such a costly and life-saving system, it was imperative to perform comprehensive problem analysis, cost analysis, define objectives and requirements, and establish an extensive design plan before traveling. After two years of preparation in the U.S., I traveled to Nicaragua and assisted community members during the implementation of the vast system.