WATERFORLIFE:Sustainableandinnovativewater

solutionsforvulnerablecommunities
Documentodetrabajo
Catalina Ramirez, PhD1, Jaime Plazas. Msc2, Felipe Muoz, Phd3
Juan Camilo Silva4; Miguel Angel Gonzlez5, Ma. Paula Valderrama6, Paula Gonzlez7, Oscar
Vaca8, Diego Grisales9

In Colombia, approximately 30% (13.6 million people) of the total population lives in rural
areas. Out of this 30%, the 39.7% do not have access to a water supply system, 60% do
not have sanitary units or a sewer system and only 11% have access to drinking water.

To train engineering students with social commitment [1], teachers and students of two
colleges of engineering have formed a group to conceive, design, implement and operate
specific technical solutions in Colombian marginal communities [2].

In this order, teachers and students from the departments of Civil Engineering,
Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Chemical Engineering of the
University Corporacin Universitaria Minuto de Dios (http://portal.uniminuto.edu) and the
University Universidad de los Andes (www.uniandes.edu.co) have been a consolidated
team since two years ago. This team has worked to design and to implement technology
for vulnerable communities in Colombia with solutions that are technically innovative,

UniversidaddelosAndesAssistantProfessorIndustrialEngineering;

UniversidaddelosAndesProfessorEnvironmentEngineering

UniversidaddelosAndesChemicalProfessorIndustrialEngineering

UniversidaddelosAndesIndustrialEngineeringstudent

UniversidaddelosAndesIndustrialEngineeringstudent/NankaiUniversitystudent

UniversidaddelosAndesIndustrialEngineeringandeconomiststudent

UniversidaddelosAndesIndustrialEngineeringandeconomiststudent

UniversidaddelosAndesIndustrialEnvironmentEngineeringstudent

CorporacinUniversitariaelMinutodeDiosCivilEngineeringstudent

economically, socially and ecologically sustainable and culturally appropriate[2]. Recently

we have joined efforts with a group of engineering students from Nankai University
(http://env.nankai.edu.cn/en/) in China, with whom we have been sharing technical
information in order to improve the water filter technology and implement it in Colombia
and China.

To consolidate this Community Innovation Projects CIP, we have taken a specific line of
work in the design and implementation of relevant technology to improve the water quality
of marginal communities. The projects goal is not only to design technically and
economically feasible solutions, but to allow the community to adopt and use it properly.
This team-project presents the proposal of the initial work teams, the proposal of the
design and implementation of the filter through the accessible design and implementation
technology and the alliance and coordination between universities and the communities.
The team-project presents as well the results obtained up until now from the
implementation of the technology in specific rural community in Colombia.

The projects long term goal is to improve the quality of life of rural communities through
the improvement of the quality of water, in order to reduce deaths related to the
consumption of non treated water.

References

[1] Aldana, E. Reyes, A. (2004). Disolver problemas: Criterio para la formular proyectos
sociales.

[2] CDIO. http://cdio.org. Retrieve on February 15 (2008).

Tableofcontent
1.Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 5
2.Problem ........................................................................................................................................... 5
3.Objectives........................................................................................................................................ 5
4.Characterizationofthecommunity ................................................................................................ 6
4.1.Generalinformation................................................................................................................. 6
2

4.1.1.

Geographicinformation .............................................................................................. 6

4.1.2.

Economy...................................................................................................................... 6

4.1.3.

Society ......................................................................................................................... 6

4.1.4.

Health .......................................................................................................................... 7

4.1.5.

Education..................................................................................................................... 7

4.1.6.

Utilities ........................................................................................................................ 7

4.2.

Characterizationoftheinitialfamilies ................................................................................ 8

4.2.1.

Leonelsfamily............................................................................................................. 8

4.2.2.

Adnsfamily ............................................................................................................... 9

4.2.3.

Jorgesfamily............................................................................................................. 10

4.2.4.

Carlossfamily ........................................................................................................... 10

4.3Characterizationofthefamilies(secondstage)...................................................................... 11
4.3.1Casa1 ............................................................................................................................... 11
4.3.2Casa2 ............................................................................................................................... 11
4.3.3Casa3 ............................................................................................................................... 12
4.3.4Casa4 ............................................................................................................................... 13
4.3.5Casa5 ............................................................................................................................... 14
4.3.6Casa6 ............................................................................................................................... 14
4.3.7Casa7 ............................................................................................................................... 14
4.3.8Casa8 ............................................................................................................................... 15
4.3.9Casa9 ............................................................................................................................... 16
5.

Slowsandfilter.......................................................................................................................... 17
5.1.

Description ........................................................................................................................ 17

5.2.

Filteringprocess ................................................................................................................ 17

5.3.

Designparameters ............................................................................................................ 19

5.4.

Maintenance ..................................................................................................................... 21

5.4.1.

MaterialsCost ........................................................................................................... 21

5.4.2.

FilterConstruction..................................................................................................... 22

5.4.3.

Testsappliedtoeachfilter ........................................................................................ 24

1.Introduction

It is not uncommon for engineers around the world to neglect social issues and problems that
mustbesolvedsofuturegenerationscanliveinamorejustsociety.Thisisthereasonwhyagroup
ofstudentsandprofessorsfromtheUniversidaddelosAndesandtheCorporacionUniversitaria
Uniminuto have created CIP, Community Innovation Project inspired by the worldwide
organizationknownasEngineersWithoutBorders.
CurrentlyCIPismadeupofindustrialengineers,civilengineersandenvironmentalengineers.

2.Problem

The problem of concern is the shortage of drinkable water in the area. The projects goal is to
improve the quality of the water to improve the communitys quality of life and reduce the
probabilityofcontractingdiseases.
Currentlythewatercomesfromasourcelocatedonprivateproperty,wherearecollectiontankis
located,fromwhichwaterisdistributedtotherestofthevillage.Thewaterfromthistankdoesnt
receiveanytypeoftreatmentand,initscurrentstateitisnotaptforhumanconsumption.

3.Objectives

CIPs main objectiveistocontributetothe developmentofsocietythroughtheimplementation

anddevelopmentoftechnology,especiallyinthosecommunitiesthathavebeenforgottenbythe
restofsociety.
With this in mind, CIPplans to improvethequality of the communityseveryday drinking water
throughsustainablesolutions.

4.Characterizationofthecommunity

4.1.Generalinformation

ThedistrictiscalledTorresandislocatedtothenorthofthemunicipalityofGuayabaldeSiquima.
Currentlythereareapproximately30familiesdistributedamongstvariousareas.Ourmainareaof
concernishighTorres,wherethedistrictsaqueductoperates,andwhere17familiesarelocated.

4.1.1. Geographicinformation

Guayabal de Siquima is located northwest of Bogota. It limits with Villeta to the north, with
Anolaimatothesouth,withAlbantotheeastandwithBituimatothewest.
Insidethe district there are two main sources of water: the source where the aqueducts water
inletislocatedandasmallstreamfromwhichtheinhabitantsobtainthewatertheyusetofeed
thelivestock.
Thereareatotalofthreeroutesofaccesstothissector:onethatcomesfromtheTrinidaddistrict,
anotherfromtheChimbedistrictandthelastonefromtheVilletadistrict.
There is a single transportation service which is costly for the inhabitants10. The roads are in a
goodstateeventhoughtheyarenotpaved.Howeverthereisahighriskoflandslides.

4.1.2. Economy

The only economic activity is agriculture, specifically sugar cane, corn and coffee. Most of the
peopleownfarmsareapproximately2to5fanegadas11insize.Thepeopleworkinlargerfarms
(10to305fanegadas)whichproducebrownsugarloafandcoffeeandwhoseownersliveinthe
farm.

4.1.3. Society

10

6000COPuntilthecabeceramunicipal

11

Eachfanegadaisequivalentto6800squaremeters.

A large part of the population is made up of adults since most of the younger people have left
searching for better opportunities. The average size of a family ranges from 4 to 6 people.
Approximately10%ofthepopulationcantreadorwrite.ThereisastrongbeliefinLaVirgendel
Carmenascanbe observedinthepresence offlags withherimageonthemattheentrance of
severalhouses.

4.1.4. Health

Thelifeexpectancyforwomenrangesbetween70and80years.Thelifeexpectancyformenis70
years. The main causes of death are violence and advanced age. There are mosquitoes all year
roundwhichcauseseveraldiseases.
ThenearesthealthcenterislocatedinGuayabal.Incasethatspecializedtreatmentisrequiredthe
personisremittedtoFacatativa.Inordertogettothehealthcenter,theinhabitantsmusttakea
bus.
Thecommunityschildrenhavereceivedshots.Themayorsofficehashealthcampaignsevery4
months,butmostoftheinhabitantsofthecommunityhaveneverassisted.

4.1.5. Education

Thereisaprimaryschoolinthedistrict,whichhas20students.Therearealso3highschoolsinthe
region:oneinGuayabal,oneinChimbeandanotherinSanJulian.

4.1.6. Utilities

Water is provided by the districts aqueduct. Electricity is provided by CODENSA12 and by the
ElectrificadoradeCundinamarca,bothofthemcharacterizedbyhighprices.Therearenophone
linessotheinhabitantsmustcommunicatebycellphone.
The aqueduct exists approximately 10 years ago. At first there was a small tank which was
replaced with a larger one 3 years ago. This tank doesnt have any filtering system which has a
noticeableimpactonthequalityofthewaterobtainedfromit.
Sixmonthsagotheaqueductwaslegalized.Duringthisprocessthecommunitywasaccompanied
by the municipal spokesperson. The community gathered the money required to pay the

12

UtilityCompanywhichprovidesenergytoBogotandCundinamarca.

legalization costs: 420000 COP at the CAR13 and 30000 COP at the Chamber of Commerce. The
presidentoftheaqueductisMr.DionelRiao.
Recentlythewaterstoragetankhasbeenfailing.Therehavealsobeendistributionproblemsdue
to lack of pressure. Furthermore, the water source is located on private property which makes
access difficult and increases the risk of contamination due to the presence of livestock on the
farm.DuringthemonthsofJulyandAugustthereareshortagesofwaterandfood.

4.2. Characterizationoftheinitialfamilies

Thefamilieschosenfortheprojectsinitialphasewerethefollowing:
-

Leonelsfamily.
Adnsfamily.
Jorgesfamily.
Carlossfamily.

4.2.1. Leonelsfamily

Leonellivesbyhimselfandisvisitedeverynowandthenbyhisfamily.Hishomeismadeofbrick,
itpossessessturdycolumnsandbeamswhichaddresistancetothehouse.Thehouseiscomposed
by 2 bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen and a bathroom. A diagram of the house is presented
below:

The water filter was placed outside the house, near the entrance to the kitchen and beside the
guaduafence.

13

CorporacinAutonomaRegional:Governmententityresponsiblefortheadministrationandprotectionof
astatesnaturalresources.

4.2.2. Adnsfamily

AdanisaretiredemployeefromtheSecretaradeObrasPblicasdeBogot.Hehaslived7years
in thedistrict.He moved herebecausehesuffereda heartattack andhisdoctor recommended
thathemovestowarmerplace.
Hisfamilyvisitshimevery15daysandsometimeshiswifeandhischildrenstaywithhimduring
the weekend but generally he lives by himself. He grows coffee and bananas and also raises
chickens.
Themainpipe(whichcomesdirectlyfromthewatersupplytank)issplitintwo.Oneoftheseis
connected to the tank located at his houses entrance. In this tank the water coming from the
watersupplytankismixedwithrainwaterwhichisthenusedtowashclothesandcoffee.Adan
boilsthedrinkingwaterbutsayshewouldliketogetsomebleach.
Thebathroomislocatedbehindhishouseinaseparatestructure.Ontopofthisstructurethereis
atankwhichprovidesthewaterheusesinthebathroomandkitchen.Sewageisdepositedina
septictanklocatedbehindthebathroom.
Thepicturebelowshowsthepossiblelocationforthewaterfilter,besidetheyellowwindow.


4.2.3. Jorgesfamily

The water from the aqueduct reaches a tank located approximately 50 meters from the house
(downhill). This tank is open since and a pump is located on top of it in order for the water to
reachthehouse.Thistank is full of leaves,deadinsects,larvaeand otherunidentifiedparticles.
Thewaterreachesthehousethroughahose.
Thebathroomislocatedbehindthehouseinaseparatestructure.Thetanklocatedonthetopof
thebathroomandalsohasinsectsinsideofiteventhoughitisclosed.
Thefilterwillbeinstallednexttothekitchen.Themaindifficultyisthepossiblelackofpressure
duetothelocationofthetankandconsequentlythepossiblelackofaconstantwatersupplyto
thefilter.

4.2.4. Carlossfamily

10

CarlosiscurrentlylivingbyhimselfsincehiswifeisinBogotduetohealthproblems.Helivesina
very old house built from guadua, mud and other materials which are typically found in these
homes.
Insidethehousethereare2largebedroomsandakitchenwithagasstoveandafirewoodstove.
The kitchen with the firewood stove is located beside the house while the kitchen with the gas
stoveislocatedinaseparatebuildingnexttothebathroom.Ontopofthebathroomthereisa
500Lreservetank.

Thefilterwillbeplacednexttothegreentankshowninthepictureabove.

4.3Characterizationofthefamilies(secondstage)
Inthissecondpartoftheproject,wefinishedthefilterinstalationforninefamiliesmissing.This
sectionaimstoshowasmallcharacterizationofthefamiliesandtheprocessofinstallinfthe
filters.
4.3.1Casa1
4.3.2Casa2
The house is the one with the most difficult access in the village, is located amidst trees and
plants;Thewatercomesfromatanklocatedontopofahillandiscoveredbytrees,makingthe
waterdownwithfallenleavesorsmallanimals.

11


Tank

Thekitchenandbathroomarelocatedonthesideofthehouseandwayback.
Thephotobelowshowsthepossiblelocationforthewaterfilter,infrontofthekitchen.

Another difficulty faced by the state

house is the bathroom and kitchen,
because in the kitchen the owner takes
out the garbage burning, which can be
anothersourceofcontamination.

4.3.3Casa3

This house belongs to the family of Gloria Arvalo, it

counts with public services as electricity, water
(aqueductofthecommunity)andgas.Thefamilyhas3
childrenwhohaveschoolattendance.
With regard to the characteristics of the house:
Donothavedrainagechannelsfordisposalorcleaning
water.

Have
septic
tank.
Bathrooms
are
The house has only 1 room for 6

in
people

good
condition.
in the house.

12

The filter was located adjacent to the kitchen, so that we could make a direct
wing committed to ensure the comfort cuisine in its use and therefore have a
highutilizationrate.

4.3.4Casa4
The house has to
differenttypeofkitchen,oneisthetraditionaloneandtheotheroneisbasedonwood.Asthe
ownerswanttochangethelocationofthekitchen,thewaterfilterislocatedbehindthekitchen,
so when the new kitchen is working they dont have to move again the filter, they have to
relocatingthepipeline.

Thenewlocationofthekitchen

13

4.3.5Casa5

4.3.6Casa6

Manuelisthecurrentresponsibleforthehouse;heliveswithhiswifeandhistwoChilds.The
housecountswithpublicservices.Although,ithasgasinthekitchentheyprefertocookonwood,
because,itischeaper.
Thehousehas3bedrooms,1bathroom.Ingeneralthehouseisinacceptableconditions.The
familyisdedicatedtotheraisingofchickens,forthatreasonthehouseissurroundedbyameshto
prevententryofanimalsintothecommonspaces.
Thefilterwasubiccatedinthebackofthehouse,neartothekitchen.

4.3.7Casa7

JoseAntonioliveswithhiswifeandhissoninanoldhousewith2bedrooms,akitchenandasmall
diningroom.Thishousehasntbathroomown,insteadofit,theyhaveasepticfosseneartothe
house.Thehousecountswithpublicservices,exceptforthetelephoneservice.
14

JoseAntonioandhissonarefarmersandhiswifeLeylaishousewife.Forthisreason,thefilterwas
located near to kitchen with the purpose of to have the water supply in this place, near to the
kitchen,becauseshehasntwaterinthekitchen.

kitchen

4.3.8Casa8
Thishousehasthebiggestproblemwithwaterquality,becausethishouseconsumeswaterofa
differentsourceandthispresenthighturbidity.
CesarGarayistheresponsibleforthisfamilyandheliveswithhiswifeandhistwochildrenina
houseinrelativegoodcondition,butwithawaterserviceverypoor.
Filterwasputinthekitchenclosetothedishwasherandclosetowheretheytakeoutwaterfor
consume.

15

kitchen

4.3.9Casa9

TheownerofthishouseisMr.Gilbertohilivestherewithhiswifea5yearsoldgirl.Mr.Gilberto
hasmoresonsbuttheydontlivewithhim.

16

Number9houseorMr.GilbertoisthebestofVeredaTorresbecauseithas2goodbathrooms,
kitchen,bedrooms,diningandotherthing.
Italsohasitisownwatersupply,wichcomesfromthegroundofthefarm,andhehasareservoir
ofabout8to10m3.
IntotheformislocatedthereservoirandthewaterthatsuppliesalltheVeredaTorresthefilter
islocatedonaconcreteplateovertheprivatebathroom,wichsuppliesthekitchenallthetime.

5. Slowsandfilter
5.1. Description

The slow sand filter implemented in Torres is a simple system of crude water treatment. This
watermaycomefromsourcesofsupplyorrainwater.Themainpurposeofthefilteristoimprove
thequalityofthewaterthatisconsumedbythefamiliesthatlivethere.Thisprocessofthewater
quality improvement consists in the removal of the water pathogens that promote diarrheal
diseasesandhealthproblemsingeneral.

5.2. Filteringprocess

When the filter begins its operation, the water flow that is controlled by a floater valve goes
through the filter bed, who consists in two sand layers of different specific diameter and one
gravellayerthatfunctionassupportmaterialforthesand.
At the beginning, the filter will not be completely efficient, because the filter bed works with a
superficialbiologicallayer,whoneedsamaturationperiodtomakeaturbidityefficientremoval.

17

This process will take from 2 to 3 weeks14. In the period of maturation, the organic matter in
waterflowwillbegintoberemovedbythefilterbed,causingthatthesandporesbecomesmaller
andthereforemoreselective.Asaresultofthat,anaccumulationoforganicmatterwilltakeplace
inthefilterbed,whichwillbedecomposedbythemicroorganismsthatlivethere,actinglikean
indirect disinfection agent. After that, the water that has crossed the filter bed is caught and
leaded by a drainage network, taking it out of the system to the exit line, ready for the
consumption.Thequalityoftheexitwatercanbedescribedintermsoftheremovalpercentage,
which is more than 95% of microorganisms (total Coliforms and E. Coli), therefore for a total
disinfectionispossibletodosedropsofchlorinetothetreatedwater.

Thewaterentersandthe
particlesremaininthe

Thefiltermatures,increasingits
selectivity(Thematuration
progressmaytakeseveraldays)

14

Thisperiodofmaturationonlyappliesatthemomentinthatthetankentersinoperationthefirsttime,
becauseafteramaintenanceprocesstheperiodisonlyof1to2days.
Thebiologicallayerhelpsto
disinfectthewater

18

Figure2.Filtrationandmaturationofthefilterbed

Figure3.WaterDrainageSystem.

Thewateriscaughtbythe
drainagenetworkandits
readytobeprovided.

5.3. Designparameters

Thefilterbedisformedbyafinesandlayerandacoarsesandlayer,thissandshaveaspecificsize
of0,30,45mmand0.71,2mmrespectively,allthisfilterbedissupportedbyagravellayerof1
2cmofdiameter(Toseefigure4).
Foranefficientremovalofthemicroorganisms,itisnecessarythattheselayersofmaterialhavea
specificthickness.Forthecaseofthefinesandthethicknessofthelayeris40cm,forthecaseof
theheavysandthethicknessofthelayeris15cmandfinallythelayerofgravelhasathicknessof
15cm.Thisisthelayersorderindescendentsequence.
This material is disposed in a polythene barrel, with a capacity of 40 liters. According to the
parameters of the filter bed, that were mentioned previously, the filter this in the capacity of
produce approximately 70 liters of water per hour, which is necessary to satisfy the needs of a

19

familyof5people.Itisimportanttowashthematerialbeforeofputtingitonthebarrel,inorder
toeliminatepresentimpuritiesandmicroorganismsthatcancontaminatethefiltrateprocess.
Thedrainagenetworkthislocatedinthegravellayerthatmaintainsthesystem.ThisPVCdrainage
networkisfishskeletonshaped(ToseeFigure5);itsdistributedinthebaseofthebarrelwiththe
purposeofcatchallthetreatedwaterandtransportsittothedistributionorconsumptionpoint.
Finally the filter counts with a water entrance line, that allows to the water entrance to be
connected withthe source, and simultaneously it allows to disconnect the filter from thewater
supplywithavalve,incaseoftransferorrepair(Toseefigure6).Inthesamewaythefiltercounts
onalineofexitthatallowsthedistributionofthewaterforconsumption(Toseefigure6).

Figure 4. Filter Bed Structure

Figure5.DrainageNetwork.

Universalvalve.

Connectiontowater
distributionpipe.

20

Connectionto

Figure6.FilterEntranceandExitLines.

5.4. Maintenance

Themaintenanceofthesandfilterisassimpleasthetechnologyis.Itconsistsonremoveapartof
theBiologicallayerthathasbeenformedduringaperiodof6months,whichistheaveragetime
ofoperation.
Theremovalshouldberealizedinthefollowingway:
Thesuperior5cmofthefinesandlayerhastoberemoved,andreplacedwithsandofthesame
characteristics. Thats because after the average period of operation, the biological layer has
growntoomuchandpreventsthenormalflowofthewater.
After the replacement of the sand layer, is necessary to wait for the maturation of the filter,
maturationthatwillbefasterthistime,only1to2days.Inthisperiodisrecommendablenotto
usethewaterforhumanconsumption.
5.4.1. MaterialsCost

Thenexttableshowstherequiredmaterials,theirsunitaryvalueandthetotalvalue15:

15

CostareinCOP.

21

5.4.2. FilterConstruction

ThefilterconstructionbeganonFebruary22of2008,afterthepurchaseofthepertinent
materials.
Theconstructionprocedurewasthefollowingone:
1. Constructionoffirstthedrainagesystem:

2. Determination of the exit key height, according to the height of an average bucket, doing
simplerthewaterharvesting.

22

3. Hydraulic tests to determine the reason between the water produced by the filter and the
waterprovidedtothefilter.Ifthereasonhasaverysmallvalue,thefiltermustbecorrected.

4. Correctioninthedrainagesystem:Additionoftubesandholestoincreasethepickuparea.

5. Perforationofthewaterexithole:

Measureandmarktheheightsthatcorrespondtoeachpartofthefilterbed,andthenfillthe
barrelwiththedifferentmaterials.

23

Heightmarks

Barrelwiththefilterbed
5.4.3. Testsappliedtoeachfilter

Thetestsperformedtoeachfilterwerethefollowingones:
-

TotalColiformsandE.Coli
Turbidity
Color
pH
Hardness

The filtersshowed improvementsin Total Coliforms,E.Coli, Turbidity andColor.Theparameters

used as reference for the filter efficiency were Total Coliforms and E.Coli, because these are
directlyassociatedwithmicroorganismactivity,thatmaycausehumanhealthdiseases.

The filter efficiency in Total Coliforms and E.Coli removal was over the 99% for all the tests on
filtersalreadymatured.Someofthetestsareshowninthenextgraphic:

24

TotalColiformsRemoval

25