We aim to install reverse osmosis (RO) filters at schools facing saline water supply in Karakalpakstan and Khorezm, Uzbekistan, and to run an engineering through education program at 5 target schools. Reverse osmosis filters remove salt from salinized groundwater at schools, lowering the incidence of anemia, which is prevalent among rural children. Our educational program uses engineering to teach about environmental innovation. Rural children will brainstorm their own solutions to local needs
Imagine that half of the Great Lakes suddenly dry up. Imagine that drinking water becomes toxic, land within 300 miles is barren, and 87% of teenagers have anemia. This might sound impossible, but it has already happened to the Aral Sea Region of Uzbekistan. We have seen the effects of the water crisis in Khorezm region on schoolchildren; rarely is rarely brought to town. We were impressed by creativity demonstrated of local high-schoolers, but they lack the resources to implement their ideas.
Reverse osmosis filtration is a simple and effective solution. RO systems can filter saline water to drinkable levels at local schools. It can clean groundwater of almost every possible contaminant, with a decontamination factor of 90-99.5%.The initial costs for the filter, however, are too high for rural areas in Western Uzbekistan. The education program will foster accountability for sustainable action. WARC can only lay the basis for long-term solutions. We must empower future generations.
-Decrease in incidence of anemia among schoolchildren -Decrease in water salinity index of water -Development of 4 innovative engineering projects by participating high-schoolers -Understanding and relevancy of key engineering concepts by high-schoolers -Sense of civic duty/Motivation for community service by high-schoolers -Increase in environmental advocacy in the Aral Region -Chance in attitudes towards rural communities -Interest in a higher education in engineering of rural youth
This project has provided additional documentation in a XLSX file (projdoc.xlsx).
