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About
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AguaClara
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The
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Project
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AguaClara
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is
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a
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project
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in
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the
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Department
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of
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Civil
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and
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Environmental
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Engineering
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at
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Cornell
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University
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that
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is
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improving
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drinking
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water
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quality
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through
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innovation
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,
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,
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knowledge
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transfer,
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...
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,
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and
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design
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of
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sustainable,
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replicable
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water
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treatment
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systems.
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The
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foundation
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of
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our
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project
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is
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in
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research
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and
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design
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of
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sustainable
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water
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treatment
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plants
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for
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the
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Global
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South.
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The
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plants
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are
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conceived
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with
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careful
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consideration
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for
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their
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implementation
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and
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integration
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into
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the
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communities
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in
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which
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they
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are
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built.
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This
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integration
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and
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implementation
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can
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be
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split
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up
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into
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the
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two
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categories
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of
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knowledge
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transfer
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and
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local
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sustainability.
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{float:right|border=2px solid black|width=300px} [!project sites^cumulative_population_cache_image.png!|project sites] {float} |
Thus
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far,
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we
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have
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designed
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and
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consulted
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on
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the
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construction
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of
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five
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water
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treatment plants:Ojojona, Marcala, Tamara, Cuatro Comunidades, and Agalteca. The plant in Marcala was designed to retrofit a pre-existing failed plant in a project lead by the National Rural Water Association (NRWA). To date, four fully working water treatment plants that are operating effectively and providing safe, clean water to 13,000 people across Honduras. Currently, the fifth water treatment plant, Agalteca, is being built and will provide 2,160 people with access to clean and safe drinking water.
Social Sustainability
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 using local labor, with attention paid to educating plant operators and other local people about the technology. During the summer operator training workshops are held to provide more face-to-face education. 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.
AguaClara partners with a local organization, Agua Para el Pueblo (APP); this regional partner aids in site selection, construction, and organization in Honduras. It is these local connections and this knowledge sharing that makes our technology socially sustainable. Currently, APP is working to select the next candidate communities to receive AguaClara water treatment plants.
Physical Sustainability
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plants in the Honduran towns of [La 34], [Ojojona], [Marcala], [Tamara], and [Cuatro Comunidades]. The plant in Marcala was designed to retrofit a pre-existing failed plant in a project lead by the [National Rural Water Association (NRWA)|http://www.nrwa.org/default.htm]. All five of the AguaClara plants are running and helping further AguaClara research via the data returned. Currently we are investigating possible projects in [Gracias] and [Agalteca]. h3. Social Sustainability 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 using local labor, with attention paid to educating plant operators and other local people about the technology. During the summer operator training workshops are held to provide more face-to-face education. 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. AguaClara partners with a local organization, [Agua Para el Pueblo] (APP); this [regional partner|Implementation Partners] aids in site selection, construction, and organization in Honduras. It is these local connections and this knowledge sharing that makes our technology socially sustainable. Currently, APP is working to select the next [candidate communities] to receive AguaClara water treatment plants. h3. Physical Sustainability {float:right|border=2px solid black|width=240px} [!About AguaClara^CycleOfInnovation.JPG|width=240px!|About AguaClara] {float} |
The
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research
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done
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at
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Cornell
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University
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on
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water
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treatment
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processes
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is
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the
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foundation
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for
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the
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design
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of
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the
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plants
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we
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have
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built.
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Our
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water
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treatment
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plants
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are
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designed
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to
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be
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clever,
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simple
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and
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affordable.
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They
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are
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entirely
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gravity
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powered
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and
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made
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almost
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completely
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out
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of
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local
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materials.
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The
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design
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algorithms
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are
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structured
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to
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be
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scalable
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and
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replicable.
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These
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factors,
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combined
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with
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very
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simple
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designs,
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make
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our
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plants
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physically
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sustainable.
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The
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next
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push
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for
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our
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project
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is
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to
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make
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our
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algorithms
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.
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We
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are
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working
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on
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the
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MathCAD
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and
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AutoCAD
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code
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necessary
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to
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create
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an
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internet
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interface
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such
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that
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anyone
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wanting
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to
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use
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the
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AguaClara
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design
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can
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input
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basic
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parameters
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about
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their
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town
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and
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the
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program
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will
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return
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a
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complete
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plant
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design.
The AguaClara team is endeavoring to expand the knowledge base for creating a sustainable future. We are convinced that the most effective way to develop new solutions is to integrate field and laboratory research. We currently have 4 laboratory-based and 1 computation-based research teams (with 1 to 5 students each) working to improve water treatment technologies. We also have a large Design Tool team that is creating computational algorithms for designing drinking water treatment plants, and an outreach team that is coordinating fundraising and public relations.
Working with partner organizations who build the water treatment plants is a critical part of the project research since it is the feedback from the operating plants that helps guide the research agenda. The AguaClara project integrates research, outreach, service, and learning. We are engaging with disciplines beyond engineering with close connections to business and public health and are working to extend that engagement in the coming months. Donate to help us improve robust, low cost water treatment technologies and to provide safe drinking water to the unserved.
Future Goals
As we move forward in our research we are testing variations of our existing flocculation model, including the relationship between velocity gradients and fluid mixing and floc formation, that will make the AguaClara technology more efficient and even less expensive. We are also researching ways to design sedimentation and chemical dosing systems to improve the efficiency of plant operation. A complete list of research projects can be found on the research page.