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Final Report: University of Arizona Cross-border Water Technology Collaboration

EPA Grant Number: SU831828
Title: University of Arizona Cross-border Water Technology Collaboration
Investigators: Washburne, James , Boyle, Erin M , Brosnihan, Deirdre W , Fuhrig, Leland , Marburger, Candice , Schonauer, Kurt , Wahi, Arun , Zimmerland, Benjamin
Institution: University of Arizona
EPA Project Officer: Nolt-Helms, Cynthia
Project Period: September 15, 2004 through September 14, 2005
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity, and the Planet (2004)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this research was to develop a water treatment system to improve the quality of drinking water for the Northern Sonora community of El Ejido el Desierto, Mexico (pop. 2500). This collaborative effort was based on ideas generated in a graduate seminar course on Advanced Topics in Semi-arid Hydrology (HWR 696L) with input from multiple campus groups of an interdisciplinary background, experienced in cross-border sustainable development. The preliminary design concept was to evaluate point-of-use solar distillation technology to produce purified water by removing naturally high concentrations of arsenic and fluoride from the local groundwater. This project focused on creating a solar distillation design that could be built with resources available in the community and maintained with relative ease by local residents. Equally important to the design concept was community-based needs assessment, building a relationship with the community, and the establishment of a partnership with the University of Arizona’s Water for People (WFP) chapter.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

The outcome of Phase I of the University of Arizona Cross-border Water Technology Collaboration project was the development and testing of solar distillation designs and selection of the final design for implementation that could be built in a developing country at a minimal cost. Project participants learned about project management and implementation of a crossborder project.

Conclusions:

Phase I of the University of Arizona Cross-border Water Technology Collaboration is currently in the process of evaluating the optimal solar distillation design to be built and implemented in a developing country with limited resources and money. A preliminary relationship has been established with El Ejido ci Desierto that will allow for future work in the community to implement solar distillation technology.

Proposed Phase II objectives and strategies:

Phase II of the University of Arizona Cross-border Water Technology Collaboration is to expand on the research of Phase I by implementing solar distillation in El Ejido el Desierto. During Phase I solar still designs were evaluated and a relationship with the community was established. The objective of Phase II is to work with the community on implementing solar stills to improve the quality of drinking water. This will be done by holding workshops for the community in February and March 2006, in which residents will be invited to learn how solar distillation can improve their drinking water and build a still that they can utilize at their home.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

alternative treatment methods, arsenic, community-based, contaminant removal, drinking water, drinking water treatment, green technology, health, human exposure, hydrology, fluoride, monitoring, remediation, risk assessment, solar distillation, Southwest, sustainable technology, water, water treatment,

, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Water, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Arsenic, Drinking Water, Risk Assessments, Physical Processes, Water Pollutants, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, other - risk management, human health risk, monitoring, contaminant removal, drinking water treatment, well water, exposure, human health, water treatment, human exposure
Relevant Websites:

http://www.aguadelsol.com/aguadelsol/index.html exit EPA
http://www.sahra.arizona.edu/ exit EPA
http://www.waterforpeople.com exit EPA
http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact210.html exit EPA

Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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