Engineers lend helping hand in Peru villages
assessing the possibility of solar-heated shower systems for towns in Southern Peru.
On a trip to Peru in May, a group of engineering students evaluated the conditions of a communal bathroom and two schools in order to design the shower systems.
The students who traveled in May were Cristina Nelson, Kameron Ballentine and Cody Moultrie, all seniors majoring in civil engineering. Laurie McNeill, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and co-adviser of Engineers Without Borders, also traveled with the students for the two-week assessment trip.
The group spent much of their time evaluating the area and studying how well water could be heated by the sun at that elevation, Nelson said.
“We gathered data and made a lot of contact. We got our foot in the door to go back to implement our solar water heater project,” she said, noting the group is tentatively planning to return in May.
Ballentine described the Northern Peru area as having a rainy season a few months of the year, which fills the springs -the villages’ main water source. It is located at a high elevation, which means winters and nights can be very cold, he said.
“Their houses are mud brick, clay soil. It is not the best of insulation,” Ballentine said.
While they were in Peru, McNeill said the group also helped with other various projects.
“We harvested potatoes and helped with general construction. We also built guinea pig cages. Guinea pigs are primarily kept for food,” McNeill said.
Because of the area’s elevation, McNeill said it is a challenge for them to grow anything other than potatoes and corn. The students helped build greenhouses to enable the people to grow other fruits and vegetables.
Moultrie said it was easy to see how appreciative people were of their work.
“It was amazing to see how what little we did had such an effect on them,” she said.
Another group of engineering students also traveled to Peru and returned less than a week ago. These students took three pumps to install in order to build wells that would provide a cleaner and more reliable water source for the people.
Those who traveled in August were USU students Jonathan Bingham, Andy Hall and Crystal Viator, all seniors in environmental engineering.
They were working in a desert area that experiences times of drought, but also receives some rain.
“Their previous well ran dry every summer,” Viator said, then pointed out she believes the water system they have built will sustain the area through droughts.
Aside from putting in wells, the students tested the current water systems in villages surrounding Chiclayo, Peru. The group found that the water was extremely unsanitary, even discovering a dead dog in the bottom of one well being surveyed.
Despite less-than-ideal conditions at times, Hall said one of the most rewarding experiences he had while in Peru was interacting with the people, teaching them and seeing how appreciative they were.
Bingham said, “The people were very humble. They lived in adobe houses with dirt floors. They were very caring and grateful.”
Hall agreed, saying, “After the first pump was in and we got it hooked up and running, it was amazing how happy they were to see running water.”
Bingham said he also enjoyed talking with the community and educating them about their new water system.
“It was neat to teach the people and I think that is what we are really doing – teaching them.”
McNeill said Engineers Without Borders is always looking for more help. Students are welcome to become involved whether or not they are College of Engineering students, McNeill said. Those interested can contact the group through ewbusu@cc.usu.edu.
-ariek@cc.usu.edu