Cornell Student Visit Honduras 2009

For the first two weeks of January the Cornell group had an opportunity to learn about water treatment technology in the field in Honduras. Students visited Copan, Gracias, Siguatepeque, Tegucigalpa, San Pedro de Tutule and the sites of AguaClara plants in Ojojona, Tamara, La Cuatro Comunidades, and Marcala. For more specific details, the itinerary can be seen here.

Some highlights and details:

In Copan we visited a conventional treatment plant and also had the pleasure of visiting the Ruins.

In Gracias we met with the Mayor and students had the opportunity to see a site where we are currently evaluating the feasibility of using AguaClara technology.

In Siguatepeque we first visited another conventional water treatment plant just recently turned over to the community. We also visited CEASO and had time to reflect on sustainable farming practices. We saw rainwater collection tanks and a biosand filter.

We stayed in Tamara for 3 nights and worked on installing the new dose controller. Students also visited Zambrano to see a CCC installed and to meet with the Water Board there. Ing. Jorge Antonio Rodriguez, a Professor of Water Resources at the National University of Honduras came to the Cultural Center of Tamara to give a presentation to us and the Water Board.

APP represented by Director Jacobo Nunez and Sub-Director Arturo Diaz joined the Cornell group to have a brainstorming session on the visions of the AguaClara project.

We visited the Las Laureles treatment plant of SANAA and had a tour by Ing. Pedro Ortiz and visited the Water Quality Control Laboratory managed by Ing. Lourdes Reyes.

In the Cuatro Comunidades (Los Bayos, Rio Frio, Aldea Bonito and La Jagua) students were able to take part in some of the construction of the new plant. We had home stays for 4 days and had the chance to take part in the Health Fair to promote the new plant.

Our final stop was visiting a FIME plant (multiple filters in series, gravity fed) operated by FHIS in San Pedro de Tutule and then visiting the Marcala plant and helping to make some technical improvements. We also met with ADEC (Association for Community Development), the NGO partner who helps manage the Marcala plant and works with IRWA

You can read students reflections and see more photos to get a better idea of trip here.