Active Projects

   Projects

Water Remediation in Bolivia

 

Cabezas, Bolivia

We have been approved for our first solo project - 'Irrigation System for a School Vegetable Gardens and Tree Farm'.  Steve Brown is leading this project. He is working with a group of students at UTA to design a system to catch and clean run-off water for use in irrigation. For more information, please contact Steve at stevebrown@dpengineering.com.

Tsunami Relief in India

 

Prakasham District, India 

 

In March 2006, the EWB-USA professional members from the North Texas, Houston, and San Francisco chapters traveled to India. Trip highlights include:

 

The SRPP Housing Reconstruction project team has been making much progress in completing the final architectural and structural design drawings for construction of the houses.  Details for the rainwater catchment design and the sanitation facilities design will be incorporated into these drawings as they are finalized. 

 

The rainwater catchment system will collect water from flat concrete roofs as well as porch roofs made of bamboo material, and the water conveyance will rely on gutters and PVC pipes.  The sanitation facilities will include a washing (bathing area) and a water closet located adjacent to the main house rooms (with separate access), and the toilet will make use of manual flushing.  Design work on the Water Stations is ongoing, with presentation to the TAC planned for April.  The Water Stations will rely on solar power to pump groundwater for storage and daily use, and it will also include rainwater catchment for periods of intense rainfall.  Team members plan to start traveling to the project site in India beginning in April of 2007.  (presentation).

Las Malvinas, Mexico

 

Las Malvinas, Mexico

 

 Las Malvinas, a Mexican fishing village comprised of primarily low-income families. The small island village is home to 4,058 people, or 74 - 86 families.  Hurricane Emily severely impacted the community, reducing the number of families living on the island from around 86 to around 68 families.  During shrimp season, the population temporarily doubles. Population statistics were recorded in a 2000 census.   The following is a link to photos and a brief description of the community. 

 

The island community does not have sufficient potable water due to the high salinity of the local water resources. This problem is compounded by the isolation of the island, which is 15 miles away from the mainland.

 

Community members currently spend the bulk of their income on bottled drinking water that is shipped to the island.  The prohibitive cost of this basic need impedes progress in other areas, such as health care and education. Providing drinking water to this community would
 alleviate this economic stress and strengthen the community.

 

The North Texas Chapter of EWB proposes building solar distillation panels, which use the sun’s energy to clean available water.  Water evaporates by the sun’s heat, and the solar distillation panel traps and condenses the water vapor.  This condensation is free of many impurities such as salts and heavy metal and can therefore be collected for potable use.  

The solar panel being designed is a low-cost system that has minimal components and no moving parts.  Members of the community will be trained in the construction and maintenance of these solar systems.

 

Carlos and Tina Sala have generously pledged a matching grant of $15,000.

Building a Better World, One Community at a Time.

Engineers Without Borders -USA

North Texas Chapter

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PROJECTS

 

Cabezas,

Bolivia

Prakasham District,

India

Las, Malvinas Mexico

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Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!

 

Hyderbad Rotary

 

Park Cities Rotary

Carlos & Tina Sala

MEETINGS

Our meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of the month.

**NEXT MEETINGS**

 

 

 

Monthly Chapter Meeting

This month’s meeting will be held at the University of Texas at Arlington in room 601 of Nedderman Hall.

(Map)

Speaker To Be Announced

 

Topic To Be Announced

 

Thursday

July 10, 2008

Honduras

 

Honduras

 

The North Texas Chapter is planning a trip to Honduras from July 29 through August 6, to assist the Fort Worth Mission Council in the implementation of repair and reconstruction projects for a trade school. The project will include the construction of composting toilets, improvement of drainage around the school, assessment of the structural integrity of the school, and an assessment of the school’s electrical system.  Please contact us if you are interested in participating. Structural, civil and electrical engineers who speak Spanish are strongly encouraged to participate.