Costa Rica

Submitted by ewb on Sat, 2009-04-25 02:43

Background:

A small community near Texas A&M Soltis Research Center in Costa Rica has a school with inadequate learning facilities and an inefficient water system. This project team designed and built a computer center with bathrooms (completed August 2010) and a pipeline project for the community's water distribution system (completed January 2012).

Goals:

Complete new upgrade to water distribution system by January 2013.

For information regarding the Costa Rica project, please contact Ebony Christian or Kimberly Wightman at costarica.ewbtamu@gmail.com

October 2012 Update

After the August 2012 assessment trip, it was determined that a water shortage is now the primary challenge facing the community. Although this community is deep in the heart of the rainforest, it has less rain in the winter season and a growing population which exasperates the problem. Two sites were noted on this assessment trip for a water storage tank. The community is continuing to partner with our chapter to improve the system by tapping the fourth spring, but their system still has limited water storage capabilities. The main focus moving into the implementation phase for Phase II of the Water Supply Project will be improving the efficiency of the water system and continuing education activities in the community about water conservation.

Sponsor Thank You Video

May 2012 Update

The team is currently planning an assessment trip in August 2012 to determine the feasibility of a water storage tank.

February 2012 Update

The team finished a second, successful implementation in San Juan, Costa Rica this past January. The team was able to utilize the help of the community and a backhoe to dig a trench about 1 km long in order to lay a new pipeline for the community's water distribution system. This pipeline now runs parallel to the existing pipeline and will provide the community with sufficient water right after the end of the dry season. This semester, the team is working on the design of another upgrade to the water system, as well as looking into other possible projects for the future. The team hopes to travel on another implementation trip this coming summer or in January 2013.