November 2014 - Travel Team #2: "We have a well"

EWB-Philadelphia Travel Team #2 consisted of me and Loyda Garcia; and professional hydrogeologist Bob DiFilippo remained with us in Apatut, Balaoan since arriving the week before. Exciting times for both Loyda and I, as it was her first time in the Philippines, and my second trip here (November 2012).  It was warming to know that many of the residents had remembered me, as I remembered them, including the children.  Thinking back to the experience and general hospitality from my first trip, the return to Robert Osoteo’s guest house felt like another home.

On our first day, Loyda and I met with Bob at the well site to oversee the drilling progress of the well. where 100-meters below ground was reached.  We also walked the community with resident Cristino to also examine design conflicts of our proposed piping system; this included concrete/driveway obstructions and stream crossings.  Many photos were taken to develop a “street view” of target areas to give a visual for our project members back home in Philly and to assist with progressing the overall water distribution layout.

"Street view" maps of design conflicts.

A (steep) hike up to the tank site.

A walk through Apatut, observing design/piping layout issues.

Like Kim, Steve, and Bob the week before us, we met with the professors and administration of the local Saint Louis College (SLC) in the San Fernando City. The professors expressed their interest in participating in surveying the storage tank site, assisting with the design review and procurement process.  In addition, prior to our arrival to the country, Professor Leonora Quarte and several of her students had already agreed to collaborate with our team in a solar disinfection (SODIS) public health initiative, as an interim water treatment measure while the project implementation is underway.

Household solar disinfection (SODIS) concept.
(Source: waterschool.com)

The next day (11/18), we met with 34 families at the Apatut community center. These families would be participants in our SODIS pilot program and were selected before we arrived to Apatut by resident Gloria. During our informal meeting with the participating families we gave them an overview of how the SODIS method works, along with and good water storage practices. EWB-USA Philadelphia distributed two-liter bottles per member of the family.  This was also a great opportunity for residents, SLC, and us to directly connect on a personal level (well, in addition to the barangay's basketball game Balaoan that evening; it's a family affair!).  Afterwards, we hung around for some snacks and sodas!  Good times.

Walt, Loyda, and SLC students handing SODIS bottles to residents.

Saint Louis College students assisting with translating and collecting health survey information.

Walt, Loyda, Professor Quarte, and SLC student volunteers.

After the presentation, Professor Quarte and her SLC students conducted a baseline health and sanitation survey prepared by EWB-USA Philadelphia to each family.  Saint Louis College continue to conduct a monthly check-in survey to each family. 

Wednesday, November 19^th, Team 2 also visited the Apatut elementary school, which was well-received by both the teachers and students.   Our intent of the visit to education the students proper sanitation and hygiene practices, as well as how to take care and maintain clean the school’s latrine areas. 267 students, from grades K through 6th participated in the presentation. We kept the presentation interactive and fun, including a germ transmission game (using chalk) and card games. Ms. Zenaida Ollero, fifth and sixth grade teacher, helped us moderate and translate the presentation. 

Loyda leading efforts in some fun
sanitation education games. 

 

Groundwater well development progressed during the week, although it was ultimately not completed due to logistical issues.  The pump onsite was not big enough to give us a true yield of the well.  However, with the in-country drilling contractor, we were able to perform an eight-hour continuous flow rate pump test and confirm that the well is viable with at least 20 gallons per minute (gpm) flowing, which is the minimum we were looking for.  We have water!  The team's return to Apatut in April 2015 will focus on well completion, step-drawdown aquifer testing with a larger pump to confirm the definitive yield of the well, which will also help our engineering/design subteam appropriately size the storage tanks that are part of the proposed infrastructure.

Bob  overseeing well development.

We have water!!! Even more than anticipated.

During our last day in the community, we followed up and met one of teachers who expressed their desire to build “tippy-tap” hand-washing stations at the school during our next trip to encourage good sanitation practices among the school students.  Ms. Ollero is willing help lead the efforts in implementation of the tippy-taps and getting the support of the Parents-Teachers Association to help us with the construction during the next trip; we currently have project members from our public health team designing and constructing sustainable test models at Temple University.

Concept drawing of the "Tippy Tap" hand washing station.
(Source: tippytap.org)

Before departing, we also met with the leaders from the seven sectors of the community to summarize what has been accomplished up to this date and to receive their feedback on the current status of the project; this is a community-driven project, and their input is essential for the program success. They expressed concerns regarding the fact that the project has taken longer than expected. At the same time, they recognized our work as volunteers, the in-country logistical issues that occur (a lesson that every EWB-USA chapter has experience in some way) and expressed how they feel confident that we will continue visiting the community and working on finishing the project.

Walt, Loyda, Edgardo (our NGO from Rotary) with the
Apatut sector leads after a brief meeting.

After the meeting with the leaders, Team #2 mobilized to Manila to meet with one of our NGO partners, the Rotary Club of Suburban East Rizal, near Manila. We presented an overview of the progress of the project and what was accomplished during the November 2014 trip. They were very impressed with our work and persistence and reassured that we will continue receiving their support during the next phases of the project.

Basketball is #1 in the Philippines. That, and the food there,
is something we can easily connect with.

This is a very large and complex project , and moreso by the fact that we are EWB-USA's first ever chapter with a project in the Philippines; that said, the EWB-Philly Professionals Chapter is making continuous progress towards a final solution to address the community’s water supply needs.  The residents were overjoyed with our interactive programs to give them a voice in community development, along with the preliminary results of the aquifer testing, and is very eager to see the construction phase of this project commence.  To further strengthen community ties, we created an internal Facebook group between our team and Apatut to exchange pictures, updates, and general “Hellos!” 

This project, and EWB-USA’s mission/vision in general, takes on a holistic approach.  It’s not simply about engineering aspect, we go way outside those borders (get it?). There’s a social impact component to our mission, which is often more integral than the design itself.

Empowering residents, they in turn empowering us through personal exchanges, has a tremendous personal and social impact.  From the town-hall meetings, to the barangay walk-throughs, pickup basketball games, and sharing a meal, it was another transformative experience for me (and for Loyda as well).   

Our next implementation trip is anticipated for April 2015.  Stay tuned for an upcoming post of the April travel's pre-trip preparation, including lessons learned from the November 2014 trip that led us to defined the scope of work for the team's next return!