ETHOS Technical Reports
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
5-10-2007
Abstract
Pollution and over-usage plague water resources worldwide. Yet, those in developing countries feel the effects most acutely. Equipped with knowledge of engineering and science, the ETHOS program will be sending four students, including myself, to the Uxpanapa Valley, in Mexico. The Uxpanapa Valley is located in southern Vera Cruz and is home to the Marianist Development Project DECAMP. Once there we will spend time understanding the culture, investigating water resource related problems and collaborating with the local community to develop the most appropriate solutions. Our goal is to begin background research that will one day lead to clean, reliable sources of water for the Uxpanapa Valley. Chris Neiport and Paul Kosmerl, travelled to DECAMP in 2004 with the ETHOS program. Based on their work, our focus will be on water conservation and water quality characterization and improvement. We will begin by identifying water supplies and potential sources of pollution. We will also test water resources for potential biological and chemical contaminants such as fecal coliform, E. coli, chlorine, water hardness, alkalinity, pH, copper, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite as these contaminants may lead to health problems. Health surveys of the community will also be conducted with the help of the Marianists to determine any underlying problems. If potential threats surface, education and awareness of these problems will be communicated to the residents of the area. Upon completion of this work, several water treatment methods will be investigated to determine their effectiveness at mitigating the problems. We hope to work with some of the rural villages outside of La Chinantla and provide several water treatment options that would improve water quality in areas without treatment. In order to mitigate the water shortage during the dry season, various methods of conservation, retention, and water resource improvement will be explored. With community collaboration, the most appropriate and attainable methods will be proposed as the groundwork for future groups to continue our efforts.
eCommons Citation
Hathaway, Emily, "Mexico: Water Conservation and Water Quality" (2007). ETHOS Technical Reports. 95.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ethos_reports/95
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