SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS DESIGN FOR COMMUNITIES IN PANAMÁ
Impact/Purpose:
To further develop the model of “implementation with education” through monitoring and expansion of existing photovoltaic systems in Chagres Park and through the implementation and monitoring of an improved wastewater treatment system in Portobelo.
Description:
In collaboration with the Panamanian non-governmental organization Centro de Estudios y Acción Social Panameño (CEASPA), the Northwestern University chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW-NU) has been working with the rural ranching community of Santo Domingo (located in Chagres National Park of Panamá) for the last two years to develop and implement a sustainable source of energy. Concurrently, ESW-NU has been working with the community of Portobelo in Panamá to develop new designs to upgrade an existing ineffective community septic tank. With design work of the new system now complete, ESW-NU will work with the community to implement these designs.
Record Details:
Record Type:PROJECT(
ABSTRACT
)
Start Date:06/01/2007
Completion Date:05/31/2009
Record ID:
186612
Keywords:
CENTRAL AMERICA, SOLAR POWER, BOD, DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES,
Related Organizations:
Role
:OWNER
Organization Name
:NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Mailing Address
:633 Clark St
Citation
:Evanston
State
:IL
Zip Code
:60208
Project Information:
Approach
:The Phase II solar project will consist of monitoring and impact assessment of the existing system as well as expansion into other Chagres communities. Electrical data and observations collected by the community are submitted bi-monthly to ESW-NU via CEASPA.
The Phase II wastewater project will be completed over three trips. Trip teams 1 and 2 will modify the existing septic tank to increase sewage settling time and will implement a sludge drying bed and septic tank pump system. Trip team 3 will implement a lightweight media trickling filter and a sedimentation tank below the filter. During each trip, community education programs will take place to ensure sustainability of the system.
Cost
:$74,093.00
Research Component
:Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Approach
:The Phase II solar project will consist of monitoring and impact assessment of the existing system as well as expansion into other Chagres communities. Electrical data and observations collected by the community are submitted bi-monthly to ESW-NU via CEASPA.
The Phase II wastewater project will be completed over three trips. Trip teams 1 and 2 will modify the existing septic tank to increase sewage settling time and will implement a sludge drying bed and septic tank pump system. Trip team 3 will implement a lightweight media trickling filter and a sedimentation tank below the filter. During each trip, community education programs will take place to ensure sustainability of the system.
Cost
:$74,093.00
Research Component
:P3 Challenge Area - Energy
Project IDs:
ID Code
:SU833758
Project type
:EPA Grant