1. EWF- Rural Water Supply Proposal
Fall 2003
Group Members:
Christopher Boone
Peter Burns
Amy Grove
Andrea Gruber
Dale Meck
Kendra Skopp
Sima Thakkar
Advisor:
Dr. Weber Shirk

2. Develop a software tool to design water distribution systems
This Semester’s Goal:
Develop a software tool to design water distribution systems
Gravity-fed systems
Rural communities in Honduras
Excel-based
Incorporates GPS and altimeter data
Outputs data to EPANET
Translated into Spanish

3. Gravity Fed Water Supply Design
Rural Village in Honduras
Stream
Storage Tank
Pipe

4. Background
Of the 510 million people residing in Latin America and the Caribbean, 76 million do not have access to safe water
53% of Honduran population lives in a rural area.

5. Background Insufficient funding Key Obstacles
Institutional incapacity to construct and maintain rural water supply systems
Shift towards decentralization of water resource management to community level
Key Obstacles
Inappropriate design
Lack of technical expertise
Inadequate maintenance

6. Partner Organization
Agua Para el Pueblo (APP) - Honduran Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
Help developing communities obtain drinking water and adequate sanitation
Aid in design and construction of water distribution systems
Focus on community involvement

7. Current APP Design Tool
Survey collection method
Theodolite and rod
Excel spreadsheet design
Functional
but....
Numerous worksheets
Nonflexible
Technical improvements
More robust designs
Longer project life
Dale’s Talking Notes….
Ok let’s see. Background has been presented, semester goals have been outlined, team has been introduced and the organization we are working with has been identified. I’m going to present the details of what the engineers in APP are currently using to design these systems (slide 7), outline what was accomplished last semester (slide 8) and then give the details of how we are breaking up the problem (work plan – 9,10 and 11), project schedule (12) and then picture again(13)?
Possible script:
Now that you all have a general understanding of the current situation of water supply in Honduras, I’d like to give you a brief overview of the current design tools used by Agua Para el Pueblo engineers. Survey data is usually taken via a theodolite and a stadia rod and then the data are analyzed and the design completed using Microsoft excel. This approach is functional, but several improvements can be made. (The current spreadsheets are not very flexible and there are some technical design improvements that can improve the robustness of the designs and extend the life of the project.

8. Spring 2003 EWF Last semester team goals: Accomplishments:
spreadsheets that “provide technical assistance for the design of public, gravity driven water supply systems in small, rural villages in developing nations”
user-friendly
easily adaptable
standardized design
Accomplishments:
Skeleton Spreadsheet Tool
some algorithms still need polishing
tool needs to be translated into Spanish
Our work this year is a continuation of the work done by last Spring’s EWF water supply group and a brief overview of what was done last semester is necessary before outlining what we intend to complete this semester. Last semester’s goal was to “blah blah blah blah” with the focus on user-friendly, easily adaptable and to standardize the design. The group made significant progress in these areas but there is still work to be done on the spreadsheet. The skeleton tool they created still has some algorithms that need polishing and/or fixing and the tool needs to be translated into Spanish.

9. Fall 2003 Work Plan Research Review spreadsheets GPS and altimeter
Honduran Politics - water boards & NGO’s
Appropriate Technology
Details of Pipeline Design
Review spreadsheets
APP designs
Spring 2003 design
GPS and altimeter
incorporate into design
Finish design tool
Create a Spanish user manual
Workshop in Honduras

10. Fall 2003 Work Plan Spreadsheet Work Polish/fix algorithms
Incorporate EPANET
Incorporate GPS and altimeter survey data
Test
Debug
Translate

11. and Junction Locations
Fall 2003 Work Plan
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
EPAnet Network
EPAnet
INP File
Altimeter
Garmin GPS Unit
Survey Data
Distribution System Design
Acquisition
Transmission System
and Tank Design
Flow Specifications
and Junction Locations
Excel VBA
Script
EPAnet Import
Command
Excel VBA Script
EPAnet Export Command
List of needed materials for pricing
(Not this Semester)

12. Project Schedule

13. Gravity Fed Water Supply Design
Fall 2003 Work Plan
Inputs
Survey data
Altimeter data
Population data
Outputs
Pipeline dimensions
Locations of pressure breaks and air release valve
Tank size
Spring box
Air release valves
Distribution Tank
Does this picture need to be in here again? Any ideas on what I’m supposed to be sayin’ here?

14. Local High Points
Elevation vs. Hydraulic Grade Line

15. Elevation Precision Difficulties Large error with GPS unit
More precise technology too expensive

16. Proposed Trip to Honduras
Education
See how water supply systems are designed and built
Examine the social and political context
Feedback on design tool
Instructional
Presentation of design tool
GPS and EPANET workshops
Determine ways EWF could be helpful in the future

17. Team Organization Rural Water Supply Team Organization Project Leader
Dr. Monroe Weber-Shirk
Team Leader
*Kendra Skopp
Technical Assignments
Non-Technical Assignments
EPANET
*Peter Burns
General Spreadsheet Update and Improvement
Christopher Boone
Peter Burns
Amy Grove
Andrea Gruber
*Dale Meck
GPS Incorporation
*Christopher Boone
Secretary
*Amy Grove
Project Documentation
*Andrea Gruber
Sima Thakkar
City-Planner (Geographical/Political Context)
*Sima Thakkar
Liaison to Partner Org.
*Dr. Monroe Weber-Shirk
*Group Leaders
To accomplish this task we have divided our project into two areas technical and non-technical assignments. Our hope is that this will encourage progress while maintaining our goal of appropriate technology. We voted on a group leader, but the rest of the organization developed out of our team member’s natural interests and strengths.

18. Resources What we have: 7 motivated, dedicated Cornell students
Cornell resources including:
Cornell Library System
Faculty advisor – Dr. Monroe Weber-Shirk
Access to computers and software programs
Lab space
Open lines of communication with:
Agua Para el Pueblo (APP)

19. Resources What we need: GPS and precision altimeter
leave with APP in Honduras
Funding for workshop/educational trip

20. Anticipated Benefits A universal design tool to aid NGO’s
Reduction in design costs of gravity systems
Improved quality of life for members of rural, less-developed communities
Personal Benefits
Exposure for EWF
Real-life engineering application
Deeper understanding of relationship between technology the social change

21. Thank you!!