Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Development Plan of a Sustainable Water Management Plan for a Rapidly Urbanizing Ghanaian Village
EPA Grant Number: SU833183Title: Development Plan of a Sustainable Water Management Plan for a Rapidly Urbanizing Ghanaian Village
Investigators: Culligan, Patricia J. , Tan, Alissa , Shue, Allen , Brelsford, Christina , Truong, Gold , Ewing, Jennifer , Greenwalt, Julie , Vukotic, Luka , Basinger, Matt , Brocco, Megan , Shields, Michael , Gale, Nathaniel , Sennett, Nora , Sengupta, Rohini , Walsh, Ryan , Pathak, Shinjinee , Forbes, Stephen
Institution: Columbia University in the City of New York , The University of Texas at El Paso
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: May 31, 2007 through May 31, 2009
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2006) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The Columbia University student chapter of Engineers Without Borders -USA (CU-EWB) is working with the rapidly expanding communities of Sakyikrom and Obodan in rural Ghana to develop sustainable water management and sanitation plans for these communities. The basis of the plans represents a decided shift from current development techniques, in that a primary objective of the plans is to empower the community members to make the appropriate decisions for their own development. Water management and sanitation committees have been formed in both communities as decision-making bodies to control the direction of water and sanitation development in the communities. CU-EWB will act as technical and planning advisor to the committees in order to assist them with decision making. CU-EWB, as the objective of phase I, has spent the past year collecting necessary data in Sakyikrom to offer this assistance; data for Obodan was collected during a prior EWB project. These data include a detailed water availability and quality study, household surveys, topological and land use surveys, and geographical information systems (GIS) integration. These data will be useful in determining water and sanitation infrastructure interventions that can improve quality of life for community residents while also minimizing impact on the local environment.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
CU-EWB was successful in collecting the necessary data to begin the planning process in Sakyikrom via the Phase I project. Through the water availability and quality study, the group found four primary sources of water available to the residents of the community of Sakyikrom: a pumped water distribution system provided by the Ghana Water Company, two separate aquifers (one shallow aquifer in the soil and one deep aquifer in the fractured granite bedrock), the nearby Densu River, and rainwater harvesting especially during the two raining seasons of the year. CU-EWB also evaluated the quality of these sources through both in-situ and laboratory testing, and used this information in weighing the advantages and disadvantages of using each source in the communities. CU-EWB also conducted household surveys in approximately 10% of the residences. The household surveys produced valuable results in gauging the water management and sanitation practices of the community members. This information is important in not only making a correlation between water and sanitation practices and public health, but also in establishing a baseline for measurement of success of the plan. Finally, CU-EWB performed a physical survey of the topography and land use characteristics in Sakyikrom using global positioning system (GPS) technology. The data from this physical survey was then integrated into a detailed GIS database provided by the Geophysical Survey Department of Ghana.
Conclusions:
Conclusions of Phase I:
Having gathered much of the necessary data, CU-EWB now feels confident in its ability to assist with the water and sanitation infrastructure planning process. While there is still a great deal of data to be collected, the pieces are now in place to begin moving forward with the implementation of this planning process in both Sakyikrom and Obodan, while simultaneously continuing with data collection. In addition to the data collection in Phase I, CU-EWB developed a process and methodology which is contrary to most existing development methodologies. The group believes this methodology can have a profound impact on the approach taken by development workers, and can help empower small communities worldwide. The ultimate goal of the Phase IT proposal will be to use this process, and accompanying application methodology, to develop a scalable strategic planning model for impoverished communities to achieve sustainable self-sufficiency. The immediate goal of the Phase II proposal will be to work within these constructs to assist the people of Sakyikrom and Obodan in making appropriate decisions regarding their water and sanitation. CU-EWB believes that the progress made in these communities can lay the foundation for further implementation of this alternative development model around the world.
Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies:
The goal of the CU-EWB plan for community empowered and initiated decision making, is in stark contrast with most previous development philosophies, where development workers act as the primary decision makers. In many cases these development workers impose conditional solutions upon the people and move on without any lasting involvement in the communities. Many of these so called "solutions" end up unused and abandoned because the "solutions" did not take account of important non-technical factors such as community cultures, expertise, resources, and goals. The CU-EWB plan will serve to reduce the communities' reliance on such development workers in the decision making process. Specifically for this Phase II project, the Sakyikrom and Obodan water and sanitation committees will serve as decision making bodies in the development of infrastructure for the communities. CU-EWB will serve as an advisor to these committees by identifying potential solutions and their specific advantages and disadvantages. CU-EWB will discuss their identified solutions, as well as any proposed by the committees, with the committees to assist them in making appropriate decisions. The important factor here is that the committee itself will be responsible for making the decision and CU-EWB will not interfere with this process. This will work to ensure the appropriateness and sustainability of any facilities that might be implemented, in addition to ensuring a sense of community ownership and responsibility for these facilities. Furthermore, CU-EWB will assist in the implementation and maintenance training for any facility the committee might decide to realize, by offering technical and planning strategies for the facilities location, construction and maintenance. CU-EWB will also work with the community committees to help identify local and in-country government, academic and non-profit organizations that can also provide support to the committees.
Supplemental Keywords:
Sustainable, Urbanization, Empowerment, Water Management, Appropriate Technology, Capacity Building, Development, Waste Management, Sanitation,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Sustainable Industry/Business, Sustainable Environment, Technology for Sustainable Environment, International, Urban and Regional Planning, sustainable development, sustainable water use, drinking water, environmental sustainability, sustainable urban environment, pollution preventionRelevant Websites:
http://www.ewb-usa.org Exit
http://www.civil.columbia.edu/edc Exit
http://www.erm.com/erm/foundation.nsf/pages/foundation Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.