Nicaragua - El Llanito

EWB-SFP/UC Berkeley Project: Water pumping, storage, and distribution system for existing well EL Llanito, Nicaragua

From 3/26 through 4/1/23: traveled to supervise drilling new well (unsuccessful), used remote implementation for installation and connnection of solar panels to new controller and new pump in existing well. Initiated assessment to evaluate expressed community priority to deliver water to homes at higher elevations that are not served by this system.

Next Steps

Work with our UC Berkeley Student Chapter partners to plan, fundraise, and specify new system enhancements to deliver water to homes at higher elevations that are not served by this system.

Before team traveled, used remote implementation to install solar panels on the roof of a building adjacent to our well with oversight by the Nicaragua Country Office team.

Welcoming committee, UC Berkeley Students with REIC Phil Bowman and representatives of the El Llanito Water Committee

New System Enhancement Concept

Drilling new well

Drilling contractor HydroLOGICA operating the drilling rig with the 10” drill bit

Using compressed air to clean out the borehole.

Pouring the cement seal around the casing

COMPLETED FIRST PROJECT

During the early-implementation visit, from 12/29/19 through 1/18/20, the Team worked with the community to initiate construction of the Well Support Building near the well to house electrical panels, pump controls and potentially water chlorination equipment. The Team trained community volunteers on how to perform several implementation tasks in preparation of the Team’s return visit. Two local individuals experienced with supervising concrete and construction work were designated as “Leads” and were trained to oversee the community volunteers performing this continuing preparatory work, subject to frequent remote review by the EWB-SFP Team, with support from the EWB Nicaragua Country Office.

Community Meeting with 167 attendees

The Team meets with the community

Ground Breaking on the Well Support Building

Team members and the Water Committee and others mapping out specific tap stand locations

Preparatory Tasks: The community volunteers and Leads were trained to perform the following tasks:

1) Digging pipeline trenches, installing pipes and fittings, and backfilling trenches

2) Installing concrete thrust blocks where needed at specified pipe elbows or fittings

3) Installing valve boxes in specified locations

4) Fabricating concrete-based tap stands in specified locations

5) Fabricating two concrete-based break-pressure tanks at specified locations

6) Implementing the site safety plan

7) Documenting as-built document drawing changes

The Leads were given extra training to ensure the preparatory work fully complied with the EWB-defined drawings and specifications.

The lead builder constructed examples of all the valve box types as shown in the following photos of construction of the air relief valve box, blow out valves, tap stand meters and shut off valves were constructed. Construction of the first shut off valve box for main line junctions was in progress when our first group left to go to the airport.

Digging the Trenches

169 volunteers came out the first week to dig trenches. By the time the last of the EWB team departed, 90% of the trenches were complete.

Our UC Berkeley chapter members who were assigned a stretch of trench to dig

Checking Trenches

Measuring tools were made by the Leads which allowed a quick check of the excavated trenches.

The Lead Builder

Lead Builder demonstrates construction of a valve box.

Under Construction

The first shut off valve box for main line junctions is constructed.

Well Support Building construction

The Team works to build initial supports for the well

First completed tap stand

UC Berkley team members help with grouting Well Support Building cement block joints

Structure of Well Support Building completed. Just the roof and door left to put on.

REMOTE IMPLEMENTATION - 1/18/20 through completion

Remote Coordination: After the EWB Team returned from the December/January trip, the team was unable to return to El Llanito, due to coronavirus travel suspension. However, EWB-SFP leadership provided remote coordination of the continuing work, led by local foreman with CO Engineer (Eveling Rodriguez) on site for all critical work. This involved weekly, sometimes daily communication via WhatsApp (and GoogleTranslate) to resolve issues, approve material purchases, etc. The work included:

● Installation of 4 km pipeline, 50 tap stands, two pressure-break tanks, river crossings, storage tank and piping manifolds, chlorination system, electrical equipment in the well support building, and electrical connection from the utilities.

● Downhole well video inspection, installation and connection of submersible pump, variable frequency drive with timer, and electrical accessories, and piping with valves, flowmeter, and accessories (under contract with Bomonsa). The well was shock chlorinated and chlorinated water was pumped to the storage tank for disinfection of the tank and distribution system piping.

System commissioning and community training is complete.

Ongoing work with CAPS includes regular monitoring and reporting of water levels in the well and daily pumping rates/volumes. This information supports analysis of safe pumping rates that can be sustained under different seasonal conditions.

Water distribution mapping

AutoCAD view of as-built water distribution system overlaid with orthomosaic photomap layer from cloud based software processing of all photos from our aerial image contractor.

Trenching and pipe installation

Pressure break tank and meter at tap stand

Tap stands and trench to storage tank with piping

Elevated piping on bridge

Storage tank site preparation and installation

Site visit to storage tank location with EcoTec contractor prior to site preparation and construction

EOS Chlorinator installation

Electrical grid connection

Video inspection of well

Submersible pump installation and commissioning

Initial pump operation and water discharge

Pump output from well head with valve train and piping

Valve train and piping in Well Support Building

Pump control panel in Well Support Building

Initial pump testing

System chlorination and disinfection

Opening 4” line valve from storage tank to distribution system

Water flowing from tap stands during system disinfection

Community and CAPS training via Zoom with Alcance, EWB SFP, and EWB CO

CAPS meetings with beneficiaries to review water use policies

Site visit and meeting with Alcance and CAPS by EWB-USA and CO team

INITIAL STEPS

We conducted assessment 11/28 – 12/2/2016, and EWB-USA approved Post-Trip Tasks and Report 2/3/2017.

Assessment trip was to determine whether the program/project should continue and gather information for design development
Discussed and finalized the Project Partnership Agreement and coordinated assessment activities with community and NGO
Evaluated and gathered information and data for proposed water supply system based on existing well, including: pumping test to evaluate well, locations for tank storage, pipe routing for gravity fed water distribution, soil, groundwater, hydrology, and topography. Evaluated availability of construction equipment and sources of tools and materials, transportation and storage of material.

Based on the outcome of our site assessment trip, the project was clearly a go.

The most significant factor informing decision making was the pumping test outcome, which validated the integrity of the existing well and confirmed a sustainable pumping rate.

We were pleased with the high productivity of the existing 100' well.

Consistent with preliminary data, this well was developed as a community-wide water source.

The El Llanito Water and Sanitation Committee (Comité de Agua Potable y Saneamiento), (CAPS) Board members presented their constitution to the Mayor’s office, and attained municipal status. They then secured full certification from INAA (Nicaraguan Institute of Aqueducts and Sewer).

Funding included an approved Rotary Global Grant application that provided $35k for material purchases and construction. EWB-USA funding and SFP internal chapter grants, and additional fundraising covered the rest.

We worked with the EWB-USA Nicaragua offices to use the remote implementation approach during EWB-USA's travel suspensions during the political unrest in Nicaragua and COVID-19.

From 12/29/19 through 1/18/20, the team conducted early phase implementation trip in person.

Background

During August 2014 ATDT composting toilets deployment, our NGO partner, Alcance Nicaragua showed us an existing well and suggested a new project

Development of a water pumping, storage, and distribution system based on the well has been a community priority for some time. The well site is located near the fork in the road to the community of El Llanito.

El Lantio Team 2018

Get Involved

Check out the Calendar for team meeting times and upcoming fundraisers
E-mail volunteer@ewb-sfp.org to find out about getting involved on this team.
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