Impact/Purpose:

We propose a partnership with the Northern Sonora community of El Ejido del Desierto, MX (pop. ~2500) to improve their drinking water quality. This collaborative effort is based on a ideas generated in graduate seminar course in Advanced Topics in Semi-arid Hydrology (HWR 696L) with input from one or more campus groups experienced in cross-border capacity building. The preliminary design concept is to evaluate point-of-use solar distillation technology to produce purified water that will dilute local groundwater, which has naturally high concentrations of arsenic. Equally important to this design concept is a community-based needs assessment, development and implementation approach that will be taken with the help of one or more campus-based collaborators. Preliminary discussions and letters of support have been secured from Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA), an NSF science and technology center focused on the sustainable management and scientific understanding of semi-arid water resources, Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology’s (BARA) cross-border internship program, and the University of Arizona’s (UA) Water for People (WFP) organization. The following lists the points of information requested in the proposal:

Description:

The outcome of Phase I of the University of Arizona Cross-border Water Technology Collaboration project was the development and testing of solar distillation designs and selection of the final design for implementation that could be built in a developing country at a minimal cost. Project participants learned about project management and implementation of a crossborder project.

URLs/Downloads:

Final Progress Report

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )

Start Date:09/15/2004

Completion Date:09/14/2005

Record ID: 88138

Show Additional Record Data

Related Organizations:

Role :OWNER

Organization Name :UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Citation :Tucson

State :AZ

Zip Code :85721

Project Information:

Approach :

(i) Access to clean drinking water is a basic human need that is not always available in rural communities. There are many possible sources of contamination, and one of the most prevalent is from low but unhealthy concentrations of naturally occurring metals, such as arsenic. While many treatment methods have been devised for this contaminant, very few are appropriate or sustainable in poor and rural settings. (ii) We propose a collaborative effort between UA students (who can help select appropriate technologies), cross-border action groups (who can foster community participation and implementation), and the communities themselves, whose quality of life will be improved. (iii) This challenge to rural residents’ water quality can be met by taking advantage of renewable solar energy throughout much of the Southwest and northern Mexico, by stakeholder participation in the process, and by adequate planning for the responsible management of any possible waste products. (iv) Funds will be allocated to the cross-border collaborators to conduct a follow-up survey and water quality testing will be done at regular intervals. (v) Students in this course and in collaborating programs will directly benefit from the practical application of basic concepts. The results will be more widely shared with the EPA and with other professional organizations, such as the American Geophysical Union.

Cost :$10,000.00

Research Component :Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Risk Paradigm :EXPOSURE

Approach :

(i) Access to clean drinking water is a basic human need that is not always available in rural communities. There are many possible sources of contamination, and one of the most prevalent is from low but unhealthy concentrations of naturally occurring metals, such as arsenic. While many treatment methods have been devised for this contaminant, very few are appropriate or sustainable in poor and rural settings. (ii) We propose a collaborative effort between UA students (who can help select appropriate technologies), cross-border action groups (who can foster community participation and implementation), and the communities themselves, whose quality of life will be improved. (iii) This challenge to rural residents’ water quality can be met by taking advantage of renewable solar energy throughout much of the Southwest and northern Mexico, by stakeholder participation in the process, and by adequate planning for the responsible management of any possible waste products. (iv) Funds will be allocated to the cross-border collaborators to conduct a follow-up survey and water quality testing will be done at regular intervals. (v) Students in this course and in collaborating programs will directly benefit from the practical application of basic concepts. The results will be more widely shared with the EPA and with other professional organizations, such as the American Geophysical Union.

Cost :$10,000.00

Research Component :OTHER

Risk Paradigm :RISK MANAGEMENT

Approach :

(i) Access to clean drinking water is a basic human need that is not always available in rural communities. There are many possible sources of contamination, and one of the most prevalent is from low but unhealthy concentrations of naturally occurring metals, such as arsenic. While many treatment methods have been devised for this contaminant, very few are appropriate or sustainable in poor and rural settings. (ii) We propose a collaborative effort between UA students (who can help select appropriate technologies), cross-border action groups (who can foster community participation and implementation), and the communities themselves, whose quality of life will be improved. (iii) This challenge to rural residents’ water quality can be met by taking advantage of renewable solar energy throughout much of the Southwest and northern Mexico, by stakeholder participation in the process, and by adequate planning for the responsible management of any possible waste products. (iv) Funds will be allocated to the cross-border collaborators to conduct a follow-up survey and water quality testing will be done at regular intervals. (v) Students in this course and in collaborating programs will directly benefit from the practical application of basic concepts. The results will be more widely shared with the EPA and with other professional organizations, such as the American Geophysical Union.

Cost :$10,000.00

Research Component :ARSENIC

Risk Paradigm :RISK MANAGEMENT

Approach :

(i) Access to clean drinking water is a basic human need that is not always available in rural communities. There are many possible sources of contamination, and one of the most prevalent is from low but unhealthy concentrations of naturally occurring metals, such as arsenic. While many treatment methods have been devised for this contaminant, very few are appropriate or sustainable in poor and rural settings. (ii) We propose a collaborative effort between UA students (who can help select appropriate technologies), cross-border action groups (who can foster community participation and implementation), and the communities themselves, whose quality of life will be improved. (iii) This challenge to rural residents’ water quality can be met by taking advantage of renewable solar energy throughout much of the Southwest and northern Mexico, by stakeholder participation in the process, and by adequate planning for the responsible management of any possible waste products. (iv) Funds will be allocated to the cross-border collaborators to conduct a follow-up survey and water quality testing will be done at regular intervals. (v) Students in this course and in collaborating programs will directly benefit from the practical application of basic concepts. The results will be more widely shared with the EPA and with other professional organizations, such as the American Geophysical Union.

Cost :$10,000.00

Research Component :P3 Challenge Area - Water

Risk Paradigm :RISK MANAGEMENT

Approach :

(i) Access to clean drinking water is a basic human need that is not always available in rural communities. There are many possible sources of contamination, and one of the most prevalent is from low but unhealthy concentrations of naturally occurring metals, such as arsenic. While many treatment methods have been devised for this contaminant, very few are appropriate or sustainable in poor and rural settings. (ii) We propose a collaborative effort between UA students (who can help select appropriate technologies), cross-border action groups (who can foster community participation and implementation), and the communities themselves, whose quality of life will be improved. (iii) This challenge to rural residents’ water quality can be met by taking advantage of renewable solar energy throughout much of the Southwest and northern Mexico, by stakeholder participation in the process, and by adequate planning for the responsible management of any possible waste products. (iv) Funds will be allocated to the cross-border collaborators to conduct a follow-up survey and water quality testing will be done at regular intervals. (v) Students in this course and in collaborating programs will directly benefit from the practical application of basic concepts. The results will be more widely shared with the EPA and with other professional organizations, such as the American Geophysical Union.

Cost :$10,000.00

Research Component :Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Risk Paradigm :RISK MANAGEMENT

Approach :

(i) Access to clean drinking water is a basic human need that is not always available in rural communities. There are many possible sources of contamination, and one of the most prevalent is from low but unhealthy concentrations of naturally occurring metals, such as arsenic. While many treatment methods have been devised for this contaminant, very few are appropriate or sustainable in poor and rural settings. (ii) We propose a collaborative effort between UA students (who can help select appropriate technologies), cross-border action groups (who can foster community participation and implementation), and the communities themselves, whose quality of life will be improved. (iii) This challenge to rural residents’ water quality can be met by taking advantage of renewable solar energy throughout much of the Southwest and northern Mexico, by stakeholder participation in the process, and by adequate planning for the responsible management of any possible waste products. (iv) Funds will be allocated to the cross-border collaborators to conduct a follow-up survey and water quality testing will be done at regular intervals. (v) Students in this course and in collaborating programs will directly benefit from the practical application of basic concepts. The results will be more widely shared with the EPA and with other professional organizations, such as the American Geophysical Union.

Cost :$10,000.00

Research Component :OTHER

Risk Paradigm :EXPOSURE

Approach :

(i) Access to clean drinking water is a basic human need that is not always available in rural communities. There are many possible sources of contamination, and one of the most prevalent is from low but unhealthy concentrations of naturally occurring metals, such as arsenic. While many treatment methods have been devised for this contaminant, very few are appropriate or sustainable in poor and rural settings. (ii) We propose a collaborative effort between UA students (who can help select appropriate technologies), cross-border action groups (who can foster community participation and implementation), and the communities themselves, whose quality of life will be improved. (iii) This challenge to rural residents’ water quality can be met by taking advantage of renewable solar energy throughout much of the Southwest and northern Mexico, by stakeholder participation in the process, and by adequate planning for the responsible management of any possible waste products. (iv) Funds will be allocated to the cross-border collaborators to conduct a follow-up survey and water quality testing will be done at regular intervals. (v) Students in this course and in collaborating programs will directly benefit from the practical application of basic concepts. The results will be more widely shared with the EPA and with other professional organizations, such as the American Geophysical Union.

Cost :$10,000.00

Research Component :ARSENIC

Risk Paradigm :EXPOSURE

Approach :

(i) Access to clean drinking water is a basic human need that is not always available in rural communities. There are many possible sources of contamination, and one of the most prevalent is from low but unhealthy concentrations of naturally occurring metals, such as arsenic. While many treatment methods have been devised for this contaminant, very few are appropriate or sustainable in poor and rural settings. (ii) We propose a collaborative effort between UA students (who can help select appropriate technologies), cross-border action groups (who can foster community participation and implementation), and the communities themselves, whose quality of life will be improved. (iii) This challenge to rural residents’ water quality can be met by taking advantage of renewable solar energy throughout much of the Southwest and northern Mexico, by stakeholder participation in the process, and by adequate planning for the responsible management of any possible waste products. (iv) Funds will be allocated to the cross-border collaborators to conduct a follow-up survey and water quality testing will be done at regular intervals. (v) Students in this course and in collaborating programs will directly benefit from the practical application of basic concepts. The results will be more widely shared with the EPA and with other professional organizations, such as the American Geophysical Union.

Cost :$10,000.00

Research Component :P3 Challenge Area - Water

Risk Paradigm :EXPOSURE

Project IDs:

ID Code :SU831828

Project type :EPA Grant