Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Solar Photovoltaic and Wastewater Treatment Systems Design for Communities in Panamá
EPA Grant Number: SU833758Title: Solar Photovoltaic and Wastewater Treatment Systems Design for Communities in Panamá
Investigators: Snurr, Randy , of Engineers for a Sustainable World, Northwestern Chapter
Institution: Northwestern University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: June 1, 2007 through May 31, 2009
Project Amount: $74,093
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2007) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The major goal of the Chagres Solar Electrification Project was to develop a model for electrification of off-grid buildings in rural Panama that was environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. This was accomplished through pilot solar powered electric systems installed in schools and homes in the communities Santo Domingo and Santa Librada with education and training of community members. Relationships were also built with local government officials and solar businesses to facilitate installation and sustainability of the systems.
The major goal of the Portobelo Wastewater Treatment Project was to improve the quality of life in Portobelo by improving the wastewater treatment system and thus reducing disease and improving aesthetic appeal. This was accomplished through the repair and remodeling of the existing septic tank. The addition of a sludge drying bed will enable the community to empty the septic tank at a lower cost, making it possible for them to empty the tank yearly as is necessary for proper septic tank functionality. Another major goal of the project was to ensure that the treatment system is sustainable and that the community can maintain any systems the team installed. We worked with community officials to ensure that an infrastructure is in place to allow for the community to run and maintain the wastewater treatment system. We performed educational outreach in the community—including lessons in local schools, trash pickup days, and town meetings. We wished to create a project that leaves a lasting impression on the town and inspires the new generation in Portobelo to protect the environment.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Since receiving the P3 Phase II award, the Chagres Solar Electrification Project completed three subprojects: (1) installation of a solar powered school lighting and computer system, (2) installation of a solar powered refrigerator system, and (3) installation of 16 household solar powered electricity systems.
In addition to building local capacity of Panamanian technicians, through this project solar electricity was provided to the entire community of Santo Domingo. By August 2008, electricity was installed in 4 houses in Santo Domingo using the designs developed by ESW. The team included professional solar engineer, Joe Phillip, who oversaw the installations and trainings of the community solar committee. Over the following months, the remaining ESW funding and the funding raised by the community allowed installation of electricity in 6 more houses by the community leaders and Luz Buena, a Panama City-based solar electricity business. Finally, in spring of 2009, an ESW trip team helped the community install electricity in the remaining 6 houses, thus ensuring that all 16 households in the community had electricity.
In addition to improvements in areas such as economic development, gender equity, public health, and educational opportunities, the solar electrification projects have strengthened the involvement of local officials in Santo Domingo to provide necessary services. A series of surveys are currently being conducted to quantify these changes, and share the model with organizations looking to do similar projects with other communities.
For the Portobelo Wastewater Treatment Project, during Phase II a failing septic tank in the Guinea neighborhood of Portobelo, Panama was remodeled and optimized. The project was approached with three goal outcomes: (1) an improvement in the effluent of the septic tank, (2) proper disposal of sludge from the tank, and (3) a sustainable infrastructure detailing the maintenance of the septic tank.
The septic tank was built roughly 30 years prior to the start of the Phase II work. Since its construction the tank had fallen into disrepair, having never been emptied since it was constructed. First, the tank was emptied with a pump and holding tank purchased for the community. The tank’s pre-existing parallel chamber flow was redesigned so the water flows in series through the chambers. This increased the wastewater retention time in the tank and improved the quality of the effluent. The access hatches for the tank were raised 0.6 m and the tank was sealed with Sika (a waterproofing agent) to prevent floodwaters from affecting the tank’s performance. Mosquito netting was placed over the methane venting pipes to prevent mosquitoes from entering or leaving.
A sludge drying bed was designed, with materials that could be purchased locally, to enable proper disposal of sludge. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) passed by ANAM (Panamanian equivalent of the EPA) was required to construct the bed. The EIS—including the detailed designs—was submitted to ANAM September 2009 and was passed November 25, 2010. Currently, construction permits are being secured for the construction of the bed. The bed design has been discussed with a contractor and the materials have been purchased.
To prevent the septic tank from returning to its previous state a maintenance plan was developed and agreed to by residents in the community. The septic tank will be emptied using the pump and holding tank supplied by ESW twice a year. A manual in Spanish detailing the process of emptying the septic tank was provided to the Guinea Neighborhood Committee. The Guinea Neighborhood Committee has agreed to oversee this plan and collect an annual usage fee from residents to fund the removal and disposal of the sludge. In addition, the Portobelo Health Clinic has agreed to store the pump and holding tank. The project team held community and school presentations emphasizing the need to take responsibility for one’s environment and the importance of properly maintaining the septic tank system.
Conclusions:
For the Chagres Solar Electrification Project, the development of ESW’s core model of "implementation with education," has allowed the organization to start successful sustainable technology partnerships in other countries such a Nicaragua and the Philippines. The result has been further refinement of this approach in implementing sustainable technologies in international contexts.
Work still remains to be done in finalizing long-term financing mechanisms for replacement of essential components such as batteries, wiring and charge controllers. Through working with local partners, however, many strides have been made, most recently in the formation of a formal organization, APROSOLLA, that is a cooperative of local agricultural producers who will serve as the local organizational contact point for this work.
For the Portobelo Wastewater Treatment Project, the repairs performed to the septic tank improved the quality of the effluent. A summary of these results can be found in Table 1.
Table 1: Water Quality of Guinea Creek
|
ANAM Regulatory Level |
Pre-Septic Tank Modification Effluent |
Post-Septic Tank Modification Effluent |
Suspended Solids (mg/L) |
35 |
3 |
2 |
Turbidity (NTU) |
30 |
3.33 |
0.15 |
Total Nitrogen |
6 |
1.52 |
0.33 |
Total Phosphorous |
5 |
0.09 |
0.39 |
BOD (mg O2/L) |
35 |
4 |
2 |
Due to differing test methods, an effective comparison cannot be drawn between the pre and post repair levels of coliforms. It can be noted, however, that after repairs the fecal coliform level does exceed the regulatory levels set forth by la Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente suggesting that to be in compliance a disinfection step is necessary.
Additionally the educational outreach and town meetings effectively spread the word of the project throughout Portobelo. During the final year of the project, other neighborhoods showed interest in the work being done to the Guinea septic tank and expressed a desire to repair their septic systems.
References:
i Cavallini, Julio Moscoso and Young, Luis Egocheaga. Integrated Systems for the
Treatment and Recycling of Waste Water in Latin America:Reality and Potential. Lima : Pan American Center for Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 2002.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 5 publications for this projectProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
Solar Photovoltaic System Design for a Remote Community in Panama | Final ReportThe 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.