Billikens for Clean Water (B4CW) - Toledo District/Southern Belize

We are currently engaged in a number of water and education related projects in the Toledo District of Southern Belize. We partner with both Kekchi and Mopan Mayan peoples on regional water projects and education. We have a long-term commitment to working in the region to maintain close working relationships with the individuals, villages and organizations. For each project we participate in, we will conduct frequent periodic visits to help achieve the sustainability of the safe water solutions.

San Lucas Water Filtration Project - We have partnered with the Kekchi Mayans of San Lucas in the mountains above Punta Gorda to provide a medium-term solution for their water quality issues. San Lucas has a single well that provides an insufficient quantity of water to meet the residents needs. We coordinated with the community and San Lucas Water Committee to provide enough LifeStraw Community filters for each families within the village. The citizens now filter water from the local river with a high-efficiency filter capable of removing bacterial, viral and other organisms from the water. (The future long-term water solution will involve the construction of a deep well, water tower and water distribution system.)

Water Well, Tower and Distribution for New Community - Having completed preliminary design and discussions with stakeholders, we are currently engaged in fundraising for a project to provide funds for a community of approximate 80 Kekchi Mayans with a deep well with electric pumping to a water tower and distribution system. The community currently has no electricity and very little water available throughout the dry season causing the citizens to rely on highly unsafe water sources for drinking, cooking and hygiene.

Education Workshops - We are partnering with communities and local schools to conduct water quality, sanitation and hygiene workshops for various groups of students and adults. The workshops are tailored to the specific audience and focus on theory (e.g., germ theory), key water quality parameters, water sources and treatment options. The workshops normally include hands-on participation with participants conducting a wide range of water quality tests (e.g., turbidity, dissolved solids, hardness, total coliform/E. Coli, etc.) in small breakout groups led by students. Workshop modules are being developed for urban and rural audiences in U.S. including middle and high schools.

Regional Water Quality Testing - We are conducting testing of waters throughout the region including water sources used for drinking (e.g., wells, rivers, springs, and caves) as well as water treated with technologies provided by other organizations.

(B4CW Faculty Advisor: Dr. Craig Adams; Technical Mentor: Rachel Rimmerman; President: Sarah Koepsell)

Engineers Without Borders - Enhanced Water Supply for Orphanage in Kapenguria, Kenya

We are currently partnering with an orphanage in Kapenguria in the western region of Kenya. While there exists a good quality spring available, it is located well below the orphanage itself, making it difficult and time-consuming to fetch sufficient water for drinking, cooking and hygiene. A previous system to pipe the water uphill has failed, and our project involves installation of pumps, water storage, and distribution to the various buildings of the orphanage. (EWB-SLU Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ronaldo Luna; Technical Mentor: Dr. Craig Adams; President: Lauren Beduhn)