EWB-USA Philadelphia | Apatut, Philippines "Water for Life" Project: 2013

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Learning from the People of Apatut

Often as engineers, we can be found focusing overwhelmingly on the technical issues surrounding a particular problem that we are presented with. With good reason, of course - we understand well that we need to arrive at practical solutions by leveraging our tool box of scientific principals, empirical formulas, and our trusty skills in mathematics. Unfortunately, this can at times leave us embodying somewhat-robotic, out-of-touch-with-reality engineer stereotypes.

As such, incredibly interesting things happen as the result of spending five days with the real life human beings in Apatut, away from our computer, spread sheets, CAD, hydrologic modeling software, databases, etc. Traveling to Apatut and having the opportunity to speak with members of nearly every household in the village has vastly opened my eyes to the human aspect of this project.

At first, one of the most apparent human issues made known to us was the community's frustration with the timeline of the 'Water for Life' project. While they were happy to have us back, we were often asked why the project was not yet complete: "why can't we start building the water system?", "why can't you stay longer to finish the job?". We understand the technical and logistical hurdles of 'Water for Life', but explaining these to villagers who are relying on us is a difficult task.

Speaking with the members of the community also helped shape our understanding of their opinion of some potential long term solutions. One prominent feeling was that of concern over the cost of expanding the Balaoan Water District water into the community. Virtually everyone who spoke about that option said it would be financially out of reach. In general, the community was interested in having a reliable and clean water system as soon as possible, with reasonable usage fees. In terms of short term solutions, villagers were mostly receptive to solar disinfection, but explained that it would be difficult get a hold of clear bottles that they could keep.

For me, speaking face-to-face with community members amplified the reality of the problem: each day people in Apatut have no choice but to drink contaminated water. Regardless of if they are old, young, pregnant, already sick - there is no option but pathogen-laden (and probably carcinogen-laden) drinking water. Internalizing this reality has instilled within me a sense of urgency to help complete this project, and empathy for other communities like Apatut.

Below are photos taken during our information exchange seminars held with each Sector in Apatut in November of 2013 .

Adam speaking with members of Sector 2, explaining the
long term water source options for Apatut

Axel translates as Shelley explains how solar disinfection

can help sanitize Apatut's water supply in the short term

Members of Sector 2 during their seminar with EWB travelers

Members of Sector 3

Members of Sector 1 listening during their seminar with EWB travelers

Shelley presenting to members of Sector 6

Shelley educating members of Sector 7 about the history and
current status of the 'Water for Life' project

Fluffy also came to express her concerns during her Sector's
seminar with EWB

Sector 5 seminar held in the community's Day Care Center

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Field Report Summary - May 2013 Trip

Project member (and professional hydrogeologist) Bob DiFilippo traveled to Apatut on behalf of EWB-Philly for additional assessment and follow-up May 21-26, 2013. The May 2013 trip objectives were based around assessment of the work required to complete well development, meetings with the Balaoan Municipality to begin discussion and negotiation of community water rates, meetings with the Apatut community to discuss and seek approval for the municipal tie in as a viable water source alternative, and investigation of any on the ground logistics with the community that would be required in tying into the municipal water line.

The following is a summary of the May 2013 trip as culled from the travel team field report:

21 May 2013: Arrival in Manila. Met local NGO contact. Visited a water quality testing laboratory near Manila. Discussed sampling protocol and picked up sampling materials. Visited the Philippine Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) near Manila to discuss and review EWB-USA Philadelphia’s rate proposal on behalf of the Apatut community. Took bus to Apatut same-day.
22 May 2013: 1st day in Apatut. Met local village volunteers who assisted in fabrication of slug and bailer assembly for well development. Re-assessed EWB drilled deep well for depth to water and total depth. Began slug insertion and bailer recovery testing.
23 May 2013: Completed bailer well recovery testing. Collected water quality samples at the EWB drilled deep well, piggery shallow well and guest house well. Took bus to Manila at midnight.
24 May 2013: 6am water quality samples on ice at local water quality laboratory in Manila.

Trip Description (as submitted to EWB-USA HQ)

During the May 2013 trip, EWB-USA Philadelphia presented a municipal tie-in proposal to the local water utilities administration (LWUA) nearest to Apatut. Additional assessment was performed related to the EWB-Philly's drilled deep well (from Spring 2012) with conventional well development techniques including; slug insertion and bailer recovery testing. The intent was to determine a preliminary recovery rate from the borehole. Arrangements were made with a local laboratory for chemical water quality analysis targeting volatile organics, semivolatile organics, pesticides, and herbicides. We also began discussions with the local community regarding municipal water line tie-in as a potential water source solution. As an interim measure, our team is investigating the feasibility of point of use household chlorine treatment for improved household water quality in the short term.

Completion of the assessment trip has enabled our team to further assess the viability of the drilled well or municipal tie-in as a water source. Water quality results are inconclusive at the moment, as it appears that the integrity of the sample chain of custody has been broken. The next steps will be to confirm the integrity or lack of integrity of the sample chain of custody, evaluate the different water source options; engage the community in a decision-making process to determine the best and/or preferred water source alternative for their needs and wants, discuss available short term measures to improve the community’s water quality and plan next steps with the community’s input. The EWB-Philly project team plans to investigate and assess the work required to complete well development either with local labor and oversight from our traveling members, or a local well drilling contractor.

View some images from the trip at the Well Rehabilitation Video/Images Spring 2013 blog entry below!