...
Thus far, we have designed and consulted on the construction of four fully functioning water treatment plants in the towns of La 34, Ojojona, Marcala, and Tamara, all in Honduras. The plant in Marcala was designed to retrofit a pre-existing plant in a project lead by the National Rural Water Association (NRWA). All four of the AguaClara plants are running and helping further AguaClara research for future plants via the data returned. Currently we are working on one project projects in Cuatro CommunidadesComunidades and Agalteca while also determining the next community communities to work with.
Beyond the physical design and construction of water treatment plants, the AguaClara project also focuses on knowledge transfer. This allows the receiving communities to be self sufficient and sustainable in plant maintenance and operation. Our plants are built with local labor, with attention paid to educating plant operators and other local people about the technology. During some summers operator training workshops are held to explain the technology to local plant operators. AguaClara places education as the most valuable element of a successful development project. If the community understands the importance of clean water, the operators understand how the use the technology, and the community takes part (contributing labor and local materials) in building the plant, then the chances of the community sustaining the technology are much greater.
...