Honduras Interns Progress Report
Date: 10/4/07
Location: Ojojona
Work Completed This Week
¿ Improvements to Plant
o We repaired the first 4 fiberglass modules in the floc tank. Where the panels had holes where the CPVC caps were, we sandwiched the damaged part between two small pieces of panel and connected the caps to the small pieces. At the downstream end of each module we installed 1 ½" PVC caps to receive the spacers from the next module. When we put the modules back in the tank about 80% of the caps actually lined up with the next spacers, which is a big improvement. We built a new fifth module with 4 polycarbonate panels. The polycarbonate was very easy to work with, is lighter, and seems like it will be more durable. At the end of the last (5th) module, we installed 1" PVC pipes that are about 8" long. These pipes hit the end of the tank and prevent the modules from drifting downstream. With these changes, the floc tank looks a lot better and the modules aren't being pushed down the tank by the water. Although the design calls for 6 modules, we currently only have 5. The last module (with large spaces) has been removed because there is not space for it. There is not enough space because we are using about a foot of space in the upstream end of the tank for an elbow that directs the inflow downward.
¿ Progress in Problem Solving
o Sulfate
¿ We're back to using the old sulfate that sediments, because we still have about 500 kg of it. We're still experiencing the same problems, but will continue to mix the barrels a few times a day.
o Problems with operation during the night
¿ We continue to have problems with operation during the night. Wednesday night Oct 3, we tried leaving the plant running with just source 1 (the clean one) starting at 5:30pm. When Mario came in the morning at 6am, the distribution tank was empty. This probably means source one does not provide a sufficient flow for the night. Last week we had better results leaving it with just one source for the night, but Juan tells us this is likely because about a third of the system was shut down that night so demand was less.
¿ Mario came today with a man who lives near the plant and helped with the construction. It sounds like the Junta may be thinking about having him help out with operation. This could help a lot.
¿ Capacitation of plant operators, Sustainability in Ojojona
o Mario has been in charge of the plant this week. He is still having problems using the tables to determine the alum dose. He also has not been at the plant as much as Juan was the previous week. They have had problems in the distribution system with leaks and clogged pipes, so he has been helping out with that.
o We met with Martin, Julia and Nubia Thurs, September 26 to discuss a campaign to raise the tariff.
¿ Options on the table are:
¿ raise the tariff just for Payaguagre
¿ raise the tariff for everyone
¿ raise the tariff for everyone, but raise it more for Payaguagre
¿ install meters in more houses since houses that pay by volume usually end up paying a lot more. Right now they have installed meters in some houses that they think use too much water and use it for non-domestic uses (washing buses, swimming pools, etc)
¿ We agreed to make a presentation about the state of the plant and why it is important to raise the tariff.
¿ We will meet with the entire Junta Monday Oct 8 to make sure they are all in support of a higher tariff. Next we will meet with the Alcalde, and next with the groups of users by barrio.
¿ Moroceli
o We met with the Moroceli Junta and the Alcalde last Friday.
¿ They agreed to finish up the paperwork for the first phase of their conduction line project with For Cuencas. Once that is finished, they will start on a proposal for a second phase.
¿ Ing. Serrano will work with them and the engineers who were working on the line before to see what needs to be done to get water to arrive at the new tank.
¿ The Alcalde supports the project and seemed very practical and not very political.
¿ The municipality has had an offer to drill a well in the central park that could be used as an alternative water source. They want to go ahead with that project. We're not sure how much water would come from the well, but we're thinking it would only be used as a backup when there are problems with the conduction line.
o Ing. Serrano is starting to work on a rough design for the plant based on the sketch we gave him. We'll try to meet with him next week.
o We plan to look into a couple other possible project sites. These will be backups in case Moroceli doesn't go through. Even if Moroceli does go through, they could be sites for other future plants.
Questions, work for Cornell Team
Plant Improvement Ideas
¿ We're not sure why there is a constriction at the beginning of the channel connecting the floc tank and sed tank. Most of the channel is about 25cm wide, but the first foot or so is much narrower. We think the channel should be of uniform width in future plants.
Plans for the Future
¿ Sedimentation tank
o Also try to find another way to design the cages, need to have support in the middle so that the lamella don't fold over and fall in between.
o Glue parts of the cages together (the bottom so that they don't come apart)
¿ Get materials to take the water from the overflow chamber away from the plant. The Junta plans on providing this and we are waiting for the materials to arrive from them.
¿ Trips:
o Trip to La 34 - not scheduled
o Trip to Marcala - not scheduled, plans to contact Fred to see when would be convenient for him.
o Trip to look at other potential communities