“The
community
was
amazing.
When we
fi rst arrived
and every
day after
that, men,
women, and
children
would be
waiting for
us at the
site each
morning.”
—Ross Gordon
helpful, the best training they received was on and a colloidal silver-lined ceramic fi lter, cost bridge project in Jinotepe, Nicaragua; a water
the job site itself. $15 per unit. To overcome families’ up-front purifi cation project in Mexico; and a new El
In January 2005, a year after initially visiting costs in purchasing a unit, the team subsidized Salvador project.
with the community, seven Rice EWB mem- $9 of the expense, leaving families with the Recently, the chapter was awarded the Ap-
bers and their mentor returned to El Salvador responsibility of paying $6 per fi lter. The fi l- propriate Technology Award for 2006 from
to implement their design. Over the next 17 ters, which have a two-year lifespan, produce EWB–USA and received a large grant from the
days, the students worked alongside residents enough disinfected water for an entire family, Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Founda-
to construct a new, state-of-the-art water stor- and R. Gordon believes that providing residents tion. The support of Groundwater Services,
age system. “The community was amazing,” with clean, affordable water was the team’s best Inc., TCB-AECOM, and Walter P. Moore, all
recalls R. Gordon. “When we fi rst arrived and accomplishment. prominent engieering fi rms headquartered in
every day after that, men, women, and children Team members completed two subsequent Houston, has been integral to the rapid growth
would be waiting for us at the site each morn- trips, making their fi nal return to El Salvador in of EWB. These three companies have agreed
ing.” Together the group moved materials, January 2006. During these trips, they educated to fund a large percentage of EWB’s budget
dug the foundation, cut and tied rebar, mixed families on how to use the water purifi cation for the next three years, making it possible for
and poured concrete, and laid rows and rows units, installed solar-paneled lights, and reaf- EWB teams to continue to plan ahead and, as
of cinderblocks. In the end, the zealous team fi rmed that the storage tank was functioning R. Gordon puts it, “dream big.”
constructed a 40,000-liter storage tank, seven successfully. The total cost of the entire project Additionally, EWB and the civil and envi-
washing stations, three water taps, and a private was $25,000, $17,000 of which was used to ronmental engineering department at Rice
bathing area. The system functioned as planned, cover travel expenses. But cost aside, the hard are working to further integrate the orga-
and San José Villanueva residents wasted no work and dedication of the team members nization into the curriculum by creating a
time in putting it to use. “When we fi nished,” positively impacted the health and quality of series of one-credit courses to introduce new
R. Gordon recalls, “the area was immediately life for nearly 1,000 people. members, as well as students university wide,
crowded with happy women washing clothes, To recognize the El Salvador team, the lo- to innovative technologies, intercultural com-
laughing, and having a great time.” cal government held a dedication ceremony, munication skills, and the tools to successfully
With a large portion of the project complete, offi cially thanking the team members for all of take a project from inception to completion.
the team set its sights on a follow-up trip to their help. Everyone received a certifi cate of “The EWB program provides a wonderful op-
incorporate water purifi cation systems and so- gratitude, and a plaque was presented to the portunity for our students to learn the value
lar powered lighting around the tank to make group. But as R. Gordon explains, “the most and challenges of fi nding sustainable solutions
the area more secure and accessible at night. rewarding part for me was the respect we gained to societal problems,” Keller-McNulty says.
After exhaustive research and discussion with for each other while working on the project “Students are able to put their engineering
community members, the team decided that and the true friendship that was created with skills to work, learn about civic responsibility,
the best solution to improve water quality the residents of San José Villanueva.” and simply have a lot of fun.”
was to equip each resident with an in-home, While most of the team members have Whether or not team members are south of
point-of-use water fi ltration system. Partnering graduated, the organization’s new president, the border or learning a new trick of the trade
with the health clinic to help with distribution, senior Deepa Panchang, and chapter members stateside, rest assured that members of EWB
EWB members purchased 200 fi lters from are fully engrossed in several projects, includ- at Rice are out there strategizing what, where,
Potters for Peace, an independent, nonprofi t, ing a water and energy project and the con- and when their next challenge will be.
international network of potters. The system, struction of a health center for a community
which consisted of a plastic storage container in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; an ongoing
For more information about how to support Engineers Without Borders at Rice or to learn more about current and past EWB projects, please visit the organization’s website at ewb.rice.edu or email ewb@rice.edu.
24 Rice Sallyport
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