1. Design Management and
Construction of Sanitation and Water
Projects in the Third World
Presented by Dr. James J. Yarmus, F.NSPE, F.ASCE
Regional Vice-Chair NSPE PEC
Past President of NYSSPE
Past President ASCE, Mid-Hudson
Past President Rockland NYSBOC
drjamesjyarmus@yarmusconsulting.com
Phone: 646-340-8500
Fax: 845-230-6616

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3. Rotary International (RI)
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
Water & Sanitation Project in Ghana

4. RI/USAID Alliance Project - Ghana
 A Long term approach to meeting and sustaining
crucial water and sanitation needs in 114
communities with a population of more than
86,000 people
 Includes (3 components):
• Infrastructure construction (indigenous contractors,
competitive bidding)
• Capacity building at local, district and regional level
• Behavior modification to improve basic sanitation habits
4

5. Project Overview
 The Rotary Foundation and Rotarians worldwide
are contributing $1,000,000 for:
• 57 wells with hand pumps in rural villages
• *17 Modern Institutional latrines in 15 schools
• 2 WC/Shower blocks in two public facilities
• *Modern water supply and distribution systems in 3
communities of a municipal assembly
 USAID is contributing $1,000,000 for:
• 20 wells with hand pumps in rural villages
• 31 Modern Institutional latrines in 25 schools?
• 1 WC/Shower block in a public facility
• All training, capacity building and behavioral
modification activities 5
* Works completed to date on-time and within budget

6. The Need for Clean Water
In many communities, residents (mostly
women and children) must make a daily
round trip(s) on foot to fetch water in cans or
other containers from contaminated sources.
Some may walk several miles.
These sources shrink or dry up in the dry
season.
6

7. The Need
7
Upstream
Downstream

8. 8
Current water source for a
village
The Need
There is a steep uphill trek
back to the village

9. Distended bellies on children disappear shortly after they
get clean water and have been treated for worms 9
The Need

10. 10
The Need for Sanitation
Schools need proper
sanitary facilities

11. 11
The Need
This “trestle” straddles an open pit latrine located in a
dilapidated structure too near a classroom building. The
stench is overwhelming. Students and staff use this facility.
There is little privacy. Corncobs and paper scraps are
provided for necessary “paperwork”.
There is no soap or water for hand washing.
“This is the worst I’ve seen!”
PDG Ron Denham

12. 12
The Need
Great kids! Typical sanitary
facilities at their schools

13. Fulfilling the Need
A successful community well with hand
pump and drainage sump compliant with
World Health Organization (WHO)
standards. This well was part of a Ghana
Rotary club community service project
completed 3 years ago.
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A new “Alliance Project” well, built to the
same standards, awaiting a hand pump
and other finishing touches

14. Fulfilling the Need
14
A modern water supply and distribution system

15. Fulfilling the Need
1510,030 users in 3 communities can choose to draw water at
ground level or overhead.

16. Fulfilling the Need
A modern institutional latrine
with cistern and hand washing
facility for schools. Compliant
with WHO standards.
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Built to last !

17. 17
The back of an institutional
latrine showing vent pipes to
minimize odor, access panels
for pump outs and one of
two faucets used for hand
washing.
17 of these, serving 4,700
students, have been
completed. 31 to go.

18. Fulfilling the Need
One of two 12–seater Water Closets (WCs) each with 6
showers and 10 hand washing basins currently under
construction. A third will be constructed by USAID. These will
serve a large market complex, a busy border crossing and a
health center. 18

19. 19
Fulfilling the Need
Floor plan – WC with Shower Block

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21. 21

22. 22

23. Filtro Bioarena BSF (Bio Sand
Filter)
 El agua contaminada se
filtra a través de 3 capas
de arena y grava
(marrón)
 El agua sube por su
propio peso por un tubo
localizado al costado del
filtro (escondido)
 Si el agua pasa muy lenta,
se necesita hacer limpieza
y mantenimiento.
 Casi 100,000 filtros en
uso en mas de 50 países.
 Filtros que ya brindan
mejor calidad de agua a
mas de medio millón de
personas.

24. Componentes Filtro Bioarena (BSF)
Tapa
Impide que los contaminantes
penetren en el filtro
Placa de difusión
Protege el schmutzdecke
cuando se vierte el agua en
el filtro
Capa de agua
Mantiene el schmutzdecke
vivo durante periodos de
descanso.
Arena fina
Permite de retener los
contaminantes
Tubo de salida
Lleva el efluente de la base
del filtro al exterior
Grava de drenaje
Promueve el flujo vertical del
agua hacia el tubo
Arena gruesa
Separa la arena fina de la
grava

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26. 26

27. 27

29. 29

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31. 31

32. CUADRO COMPARATIVO
SUMINISTRO DE LECHE DIARIA SE REQUIEREN 40 LITROS
AL MES QUE SON 1200 LITROS MENSUALES
LECHE
LALA
LECHE
SAN MARCOS
LECHE
NUTRILECHE
PROYECTO
VACA
MECANICA
PRECIO
UNITARIO X
LITRO
$ 14.00 $ 10.50 $ 10.00 $ 2.50
COSTO
UNITARIO
MENSUAL
$ 16,800 $ 12,600 $ 12,000 $ 3,000
COSTO
UNITARIO
ANUAL
$ 201,600 $ 151,200 $ 144,000 $ 36,000

33. Questions to Evaluate Learning Objectives in the Design,
Management and Construction of Sanitation and Water
Projects in underdeveloped areas:
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What are the challenges in finding water sources?
Which are the three major purifying processes?
Why are group latrines preferred to single latrines?
When are bio-sand filters used in some projects?
What are the maintenance problems in bio-sand filters?
What are the alternatives to bio-sand filters in those projects?
Describe distribution modes for tank or dam projects?
When are wells preferred as a water source in some areas?
Why are latrines used more than conventional water closets?
How do Professional Engineers work on third world projects?

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THIS RESPONDS TO THE FIRST TWO QUESTIONS:
Challenges to find water sources include constructing or repairing a dam,
running piping without excessive pressure, and constructing a nearby tank.
The purifying processes include removing turbidity, neutralizing PH, and
providing means to remove contaminants such as e-coli. Sometimes, chemical
treatment is needed such as removal of excess minerals (like iron).

35. 35
Group latrines can provide for less frequent maintenance and better venting.
They can also justify proper maintenance when residents cannot replace
as they get filled and no longer serve the residential group or single house.

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Bio-sand filters can be used when only certain bacterial contaminants generate
health dangers to users. The “schmutzdecke” eliminates contaminants with bacteria
That consumes the e-coli and similar threats

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The maintenance problems include disturbing the schmutzdecke,
removing the sand under it, adding the contaminated water too fast, insufficient
frequency of cleaning the tubes that carry the purified water and protecting the
filter from insects or other vermin.

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The alternatives to biosand filters are usually less effective but better than not
cleaning the water during maintenance cycles when local supplies are unavailable.
Porous clay filters are in use for transient workers and as back ups when needed.

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Distribution modes include methods to relieve excess pressure, piping to pilas,
piping to toilets if they exist, providing central chlorination when indicated, usually
on the top of the local tank.

40. 40
The wells are preferred when equipment is available and the aquifer quality eliminates
the need for additional purification processes. Often wells are manual and the women
get their buckets filled very close to their homes.

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Latrines are used when water closets cannot be built due to insufficiency of supplies.
Usually, latrines serve more than one household, depending on proximity.

42. 42
Professional Engineers can be mentors with EWB with or without going to the field,
they can join Rotary and volunteer for CADRE projects, or they can donate to both.
This is the last slide. For additional information, email me or call:
Email: drjamesjyarmus@yarmusconsulting.com Cell: 845-300-6666
Thank you for coming and in advance for acting on these world projects. Jim