Project Resources

Water Quality and Purification

1. What specific contaminants are in the spring water? Which bacteria, viruses, protozoa, helminthes?
2. What type of purification system is necessary? Will a solar heated system or a slow sand filtration be sufficient to kill these contaminants and, if so, how extensive is the maintenance on these systems? If it is necessary to resort to chemical filtration, such a chlorine or ozone, how cost effective and practical are these chemicals. Because chlorine degrades over a short amount of time, will it be possible if this is chosen as the best purification method to supply this chemical at all times of the year under any weather conditions?
3. If the spring is, in fact, contaminated, is well water a cost effective option? How deep below ground would we need to dig? This would effect the initial cost of drilling and the long term cost of pumping. Would this water be clean or would it also need filtration?
4. Is rainwater harvesting widespread? Does the common type of roof even allow for rainwater harvesting? Would community members be open to learning more about how to collect and conserve rainwater? I’d be curious to know how rainy is the rainy season and how dry is the dry season, because if it rains a little bit in the dry season as well, it may be possible to use rainwater for most daily needs.

Power Systems and Distribution

1. We will need to take detailed measurements of the landscape.
2. How much power is required. This will depend on whether we will be taking water from uphill and using a gravity feed system or whether we will be pumping well water or whether we will be distributing water from a source at sea level.
3. What is the weather like there? Is it sunny enough year round and is there adequate land space allotted that solar power would be the best option? Is there a river or creek with an adequate fall for hydropower to be plausible? If so, how close is this source to where we would need to use the power? Are their sufficient winds for wind power to be a good option. This is probably not optimal unless there is a whole lot of wind. Would the community feel comfortable with having a tall wind tower, bulky solar panels, or a hydro generator in their water? These may be met with cultural controversy.
4. How big of a photovoltaic system, wind tower, or hydropower generator will we need to produce the power required?
5. Which renewable energy option is easiest to maintain? (the answer to this I know is solar power) How will we provide the community with the tools and knowledge to maintain these systems?

Cultural, Interaction and Education

1. Is there a plot of land, a water source or a section of a water source that is considered sacred? Where are the ceremonies held? This would be important if we needed to place a hydropower generator or an energy system.
2. It is important to ask for input from the community every step of the way. As far as water purification is concerned, would the community be happiest with a natural (solar heating or sand filtration) method of purification, or would they be just as comfortable using chemicals that could possibly have carcinogenic effects?
3. What type of education system is in the community currently? Do most children attend school? Can most people read? Would an interactive workshop be the most acceptable way of teaching and training?
4. Is there a meeting center where information on system maintenance, health, rainwater harvesting, etc. be posted for people to refer to after we leave?
5. Is there a group of elders or teacher that would pass on information to the rest of the community if it is impossible for us to speak with everyone at once?

Katia – Mon, 09/10/2007 – 8:21pm

Legal Questions

1. The application states that the local “Council on Development” has already obtained legal status with the Guatemalan government. What exactly does this entail? What legal power does this council have? (i.e. What can they do and not do as a legal entity?) For example, will the national government recognize the council’s right to own the water system?

2. On a local level, what areas of the community does the council regulate / control / influence?

3. Who is on the council and how did they receive this position? Is it truly democratic?

4. Currently, we have a verbal agreement for the community members to provide free labor for
the project, but does there need to be a more official agreement than this verbal one? What kind of contract should there be? Can the contract be between EWB and the Council on Development? Does the council have the power to enforce such a contract? Can EWB enforce such a contract?

5. More generally, how are regulations decided upon by the council enforced within the community? Do members of the community recognize the authority of the council? Is there a police force?

6. The application states that if the natural spring is sold to the community, it will be deeded to the Council on Development. Will the Council also own any land needed for the piping system to bring water from the spring to the town (or from the river to the town, from centralized wells to the town, etc…)? If the pipes need to go through privately-owned land, is the owner likely to agree to this? Is there precedence for laying public infrastructure through private land? Would the land need to be bought from the owner so that it is then public land?

7. Where can EWB obtain construction equipment (if necessary) during the building phase? Can it be rented locally? What are the requirements for that? (i.e. Can EWB members rent the equipment, or only locals? Is there an age limit? Is a special license required?)

8. Once the project got started, is there any source of government funding for this type of development project? Is there any other non-government source of funding, outside of Wuqu’Kawoq?

9. What different taxation schemes are currently used in other similar towns to raise money for routine maintenance costs on systems such as the proposed water system? Tax per person? Property tax? A fee based on amount of water used? Also, who will be in charge of collecting this money, and of maintaining records? The council again?

10. Who will be in charge of maintaining the water system? Who will do routine repairs, routine inspections? Will there be an outside company? A member of the community? Will it be a volunteer job or a paid local government position?

Other Questions:

1. What sort of timeline does the community and the Council envision for the completion of this project? Does their timeline line up with our own? (This just might be a good thing to check early on to make sure everyone is on the same page.)

2. The Wuqu’Kawoq is “currently pursuing the water delivery option [from the spring].” How far have they gotten? What have they already done? Do they have any more recent information since the date of the application (July 07)?

ecler2 – Wed, 09/12/2007 – 5:23pm

What water-borne diseases are common?

More info about the existing wells: How deep are they? Are they privately owned? Is the water shared? etc

Location, depth, etc of the aquifer

What is the soil, vegetation, landscape, etc. like?

Micah Yergler – Thu, 09/13/2007 – 6:23am

Is the water in the wells contaminated, or is it clean and only becomes contaminated after it's pumped out and placed in an unsanitary bucket, for instance, or used for both drinking and washing? A follow-up question: How do people use the well water? (Ex, washing, drinking, cooking all from the same container?) How do they transport the well water to their homes? (What else do they use the container for that they use to get water?) ecler2 – Thu, 09/13/2007 – 4:38pm