GlobalGiving.org: Help Provide Clean Water to Corail Lamothe, Haiti

Funding and Travel for Implementation

Kevin Friedman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:13:29 GMT

Plans for constructing a new storage tank were submitted for review by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). We are addressing a few items and looking to travel in April or May of this year to start construction. We will be working with a local contractor for the construction of the storage tank.

Through various local charitable organizations and grants we have been able to raise enough money to move forward with construction of a large centrally located storage tank, collection system, and purchase of sand filters.

We continue to reach out to the local community for support and keep in touch with Corail Lamothe to follow track the progress of the piloted improvements.

Thank you for your continued support.

Plans for a new water storage tank

Kevin Friedman — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:44:15 GMT

The last few months have been spent completing reports documenting our last implemenation trip and preparing plans and activities for our next trip. Our group has submitted plans for approval of our next trip planned for early 2012.

After meeting with our community during the last implementation trip it was confirmed that the focus of our next project would be a large centrally located (33,000) gallon water storage tank. The tank will be located adjacent to the community's church and will be constructed by a local Contractor. Our group will provide plans for the work, will conduct several site visits to oversee the construction of the tank, and will complete the installation of the collection system (gutters and piping).

We will also be providing additional sand filters to the community. Members of the community will be trained by local representatives of the sand filter distributors to ensure proper use and maintenance.

We continue to keep in touch with the community on a regular basis to follow the success of the last improvements and better prepare for any challenges the community is faced with.

Thank you for your continued support.

Post Assessment

Kevin Friedman — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:46:03 GMT

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It has been a long two years for Haiti, but your continued support to help provide clean water to the people of Corail Lamothe helped to bring smiles to the faces of many and hope to those in need.

The travel team conducted an assessment trip prior to the earthquake and returned again recently to implement some of the planned improvements to help provide clean water to Corail Lamothe.

During our initial assessment trip we conducted site and health assessments, visited the local spring, met with the local water committee, and outlined proposed improvements. Originally we planned to rehabilitate several cisterns, install and/or fix rain collection systems, and purchase up to 40 sand filters for the community. The initial planned improvements were adjusted due to the earthquake. A pilot installation of the planned improvements at a single location was completed to determine if the planned improvements would be effective.

We constructed a rain catchment system for a single location and the pilot was a success as the cistern collected over 200 gallons of water in a single rain event. We met again with the water committee to revisit how best to move forward. After careful consideration it was decided to construct a large centrally located cistern at the church.

We are currently in the process of preparing a report to document our most recent implementation trip, developing plans for the large cistern, and reaching out for support to make this a reality for Corail Lamothe.

Thank you to all of our supporters for making access to clean water a reality for the villagers of Corail Lamothe.

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Assessment Trip to Corail Lamothe

Rachel Jones — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:18:37 GMT

Map of Haiti - Corail Lamothe

NEWS! The EWB-SCFL chapter made the first site assessment trip to the community of Corail Lamothe, Haiti from October 31, 2009 through November 5, 2009, during the end of the wet season.

About the Trip

Trip Objectives: 1) Meet with the local Water Committee and establish a memorandum of understanding (MOU). 2) Identify a location for a new cistern/rain catchment system for potable water supply. 3) Evaluate the local water sources 4) Conduct a health assessment

Trip Summary: The EWB-SCFL travel team consisted of Kevin Friedman, William Marshall, and Patrick Saint-Lot. In addition, Bruce Goddard and a few of his colleagues from our NGO (non-governmental organization) partner HERO (Health and Education Relief Organization) accompanied the EWB team. Upon arrival the team met with the Water Committee, consisting of 13 Corail Lamothe residents, to identify the community's needs and begin establishing the MOU. Patrick, native to Haiti, volunteered to act as the translator during the trip on behalf of EWB-SCFL. The major concerns discussed were; 1) Spring protection 2) New cistern/rehab existing cisterns 3) School supplies. The preliminary plan was to construct one new large central cistern for the community to share at a local church. After meeting with the committee, it was determined that one central location would not be the most beneficial solution to the water supply and accessibility issues, as many residents would still have to walk a long distance to access the water. The travel team was able to survey about ten (10) existing cisterns in the village in desperate need of rehabilitation or replacement. Rehabilitation would include concrete repair, gutter repair, water stops, sealant and coatings. Providing multiple sources of water allows for more convenient accessibility for the residents of the community. The team was able to collect roof area measurements and calculate the existing available storage volume of approximately 70,000 gallons. Slow sand filtration at a household level was also discussed with the Water Committee. EWB-SCFL would like to include filtration as part of this phase of the project and the Water Committee agreed. Slow sand filtration is a proven technology that provides 90-99% pathogen removal. The filters do not use chemicals, contain no moving parts and are constructed by a local Haitian non-profit organization, Pure Water for Haiti. Select members of the community will attend a two day training seminar led by representatives of Pure Water for Haiti to ensure proper filter use and maintenance and help to initiate hygiene education at the household level. The EWB-SCFL and HERO travel teams had an organized community meeting at the local church to discuss the partnership between our teams and Corail Lamothe. The meeting included men women and children of the community.

Next, the travel teams walked with locals to three (3) springs, of which Corail Lamothe residents use the first two. Flow measurements were taken at the first spring which is approximately a 3 hour walk round trip. As mentioned previously, the travel team was in Corail Lamothe at the end of wet season, so the spring was flowing at about 2 gpm. During dry season, from November to the end of April, the first two springs dry up and water is not readily available. The second spring is approximately a 5 or 6 hour walk roundtrip.

The health assessment is an ongoing effort as there are not medical records for the residents of the community. The health information received is word of mouth. The EWB-SCFL team will follow up with this effort during the implementation trip.

GOALS:

Phase I EWB-USA SCFL will provide construction materials and design expertise to help rehabilitate existing cisterns and optimize rain catchment systems to provide 65,000 gallons of water storage. Also provided, with the help of Pure Water for Haiti, will be the household slow sand filter, as well as training to Corail Lamothe community members to ensure proper maintenance and to help initiate hygiene education.

Phase I Implementation Schedule: Late April 2010, before rainy season begins.

Phase I Implementation Cost: Approximately $25,000.

Phase II Composting latrines will be implemented to serve as sanitation facilities that will introduce a natural biological process to remove pathogens and provide a safe product that can be used to improve agricultural production

Phase II Implementation: October 2010, end of rainy season.

Action Items: 1) A memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been created and Patrick will translate the document from English to Creole. The MOU is an agreement between EWB-SCFL and the Corail Lamothe Water Committee. The agreement will detail EWB-SCFL’s intentions and responsibilities and the responsibilities of the water committee for Phase I of this project. Bruce Goddard will be traveling back to Haiti in mid-December with another EWB project team and will deliver the MOU to the Water Committee for their approval and signatures. 2) To achieve our goal of implementation by late April 2010, fundraising is a key element. To rehab the cisterns, we'll need to purchase the necessary materials to do so, hire laborers and potentially hire a local contractor. Materials are extremely difficult to access due to the distance and rough terrain between Corail Lamothe and the locations construction materials. During rainy season, it is next to impossible.

Fundraising Goal by April 2010 $25,000.

THANK YOU!! On behalf of EWB-SCFL and the Corail Lamothe project team, we’d like to send our donors our deepest gratitude for your support during these tough economic times. Without your donations and kind hearts, this project would not be possible. Because of your generous gifts, the residents of Corail Lamothe, Haiti will have reliable, safe potable water sources for many years to come!

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