Ghana Project Log
-Project Meeting
April 7 - April 8, 2018
-Continued next phase of biosand filter construction.
-Purchased sand, gravel, a diffuser plate, and pipe cement.
-Performed a sieve analysis to check that the flow rate through the sand we purchased would be appropriate.
-Began sieving and cleaning sand and gravel, and left media outside to dry for at least 24 hours.
April 3, 2018
-Project Meeting
-Held an open group discussion about different diffuser plate designs for the biosand filters. The diffuser plate is responsible for controlling the flow of water into the biosand filter and protecting the biofilm once it forms on top of the sand.
-Many ideas were shared ranging from buckets to flat plates made of different potential materials such as metal, plastic or ceramic.
March 27, 2018
-Project Meeting
-Travel application has been opened!
-This week we worked a bit on completing clean water pamphlets for the trip. Additionally, we discussed and researched exactly what size sand should be used in the filter and how to create successful diffuser plate.
-The borehole rehabilitation group began to think about drafting the Pre-Assessment Report for that portion of the trip this summer.
March 25, 2018
-Began construction of biosand filter model here at school.
-Purchased filter body (large plastic outdoor trash can), 1" piping for filtered water, and pipe fittings.
-Worked mostly on sizing piping and drilling holes into the pipe that will sit at the bottom of the filter.
-Will continue next steps of construction in a few weeks.
March 20, 2018
-Project Meeting
-John Barber came to speak to the group. John is the Director of Ghana ACT, an NGO in the United States that we work with for help with project plans, traveling, and communication.
March 13, 2018
-No Project Meeting - Spring Break!
March 6, 2018
-Project Meeting
-Announced that we will be making a biosand filter here at school after Spring Break - will be a great learning opportunity
-Split into groups:
- Biosand Education Team: Took a look at the community surveys we collected this summer when traveled to Saviefe-Deme. Members worked on collecting the demand of the community.
- Biosand Design Team: Researched more on the exact size of the sand and gravel particles in the filter and calculations for the discharge piping connected to the filter.
- Borehole Rehabilitation: Became familiar with the Pre-Assessment Report and began to organize different sections of the report.
February 27, 2018 -Project Meeting -Low meeting attendance so we held a small group discussion about new updates and plans going forward -Hydrofracking team has been renamed to Borehole Rehabilitation Team due to current changes in project plan -The people who did attend split up into their designated groups: Biosand Education Team: Began work on a brochure to distribute to the community, drafted a template for the Operations & Maintenance Manual, and adding information on cleaning the sand and gravel to the pre-implementation report Biosand Design Team: Continued work on filter CAD drawing and refined calculations for filter media levels (sand and gravel) and diffuser plate Borehole Rehabilitation Team: Created and began work on Pre-Assessment Report
February 20, 2018 -No Project Meeting -This week the project managers are meeting with their professional mentors and speaking to in-country contacts to talk about the project's next steps -During this meeting the project managers and mentors talked about assessing the boreholes this summer instead of performing an implementation -Also decided to construct a full scale biosand filter at school after Spring Break - to assure the construction is feasible and the design will function correctly.
February 13, 2018 -Household Treatment Alternative Analysis approved!! -The project team can now move forward to Pre-Implementation phase of biosand filtration
February 13, 2018 -Project Meeting -Updates: Chapter meeting this Wednesday at 6 PM -Split into groups and continued work: Biosand Education Team: The team continued adding info to the report and continued exploring material pricing. Biosand Design Team: Members began working on creating a CAD schematic of the biosand filter and adding details to sections of the Pre-Implementation Report. Hydrofracking Team: Searched through our shared Google Drive and searched for all information we have on the existing boreholes in Saviefe-Deme. We have not been able to locate as much information as we thought we could, so we discussed potentially taking a step back and assessing the boreholes this summer instead of an implementation.
February 6, 2018 -Project Meeting -Received comments back on our Borehole Alternative Analysis! Still no response for our Household Treatment Alternative Analysis. -Project leads (Victoria and Sami) and project member (Michael) had a conference call with the ICP Reviewer about comments and received great feedback... so they updated all project members on the call -Victoria and Sami spoke a bit about project lead position and sent out application for next year after the meeting: due February 20th -Split into groups: Biosand Filter Education Team: Part of the group continued work on the Operations and Maintenance manual while others looked up the costs of biosand filter materials. Biosand Filter Design Team: Team members worked on creating a master materials list and began thinking about the filter's discharge piping. Hydrofracking Team: The team worked on addressing the comments we received back from EWB-USA. The biggest take away we had from the comments was that we need to gather more data and information on the boreholes we are looking to hydrofrack, so the team began to do so.
January 30, 2018 -First Project Meeting of the Semester! -Updated project members on changes over Winter Break Received quotes for hydrofracturing and mechanization of boreholes from a local business in Ho, Ghana Have dimensions, price, and images of plastic buckets to be used for the body of a biosand filter Aiming for later travel: mid-August Received comments back on Borehole Alternative Analysis from EWB-USA Still waiting on Household Filtration Alternative Analysis comments Sending out project lead application next week! -Split back up into teams and began to pick up work on the pre-implementation reports -Hydrofracking group focused on addressing the comments from EWB-USA
December 12, 2017 -Last Project Meeting of the Semester -Ate pizza and discussed work to be completed over Winter Break
December 5, 2017 -Project Meeting -Broke back into 3 teams and continued work from last week Biosand Filter Design Team: The group narrowed their focus this week to the plastic body for the biosand filters. They performed relative volume calculations to determine the different amounts of sand and gravel necessary, determined the size piping needed for the discharge apparatus of the filter, and looked further into how to construct the diffuser plate. Biosand Filter Education Team: This week the team created a pamphlet to provide to community members on the importance of clean water. They also continued adding information to the Pre-Implementation Report including points such as how to instruct the community on how to build the filters. Hydrofracking Team: The team continued their work on the Pre-Implementation this week. They further discussed the process of hydrofracking done by Kingaka Co. Ltd. and the different prices of aspects such as pre and post logging, hydrofracking, and pump installation and tests.
November 28, 2017 -Project Meeting -Alternative Analysis Reports have been submitted to mentors for comments -Continued work on Pre-Implementation Reports -Divided into 3 teams: Biosand Filter Design Team: This group is responsible for coming up with the design of the biosand filters we will be implementing on our next trip and performing the research and calculations necessary. Some components that need to be taken into consideration are: the filter body, filter media, discharge piping, etc. During the meeting this week the group discussed plastic buckets, and how to incorporate each aspect of a biosand filter design (diffuser plate, spout, etc.) if the buckets were purchased from Ho, Ghana. Biosand Filter Education Team: This team is responsible for coming up with the plans for educating the members of the Saviefe-Deme community on the importance of clean drinking water, why filters are important, and how to properly maintain the filters once we leave. They are also in charge of figuring out the most efficient way to implement these filters in each household. This week the group made a rough construction schedule to determine how long would be needed for each aspect of the project and the overall implementation. Hydrofracking Team: Since a separate Pre-Implementation Plan is necessary in order to hydrofrack the third group is responsible for the completion of that report. That includes completing any additional research, figuring out the logistics of the process while in-country, what education is necessary for the community, and implementation of pumps and any piping. This meeting the group began to fill in sections of the Pre-Implementation Report. -We will be dividing into these groups for the remainder of the semester -A fourth group began writing up a contract agreement for the Community Water & Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in Ghana so that we have full rights to one of the boreholes in the community we intend on hydrofracking.
November 21, 2017 -No Project Meeting - Thanksgiving Break
November 14, 2017 -Project Meeting -Divided into groups and began to launch into research for Pre-Implementation Report -Groups researched: past biosand filtration projects, plastic vs. concrete bodies, and community education
November 7, 2017 -Project Meeting -Announced to project members that the community prefers to have biosand filters implemented. From here on out the team's focus will be on these filters as we begin to enter the early stages of writing our Pre-Implementation Report. -Group members began to look into educating community members of the importance of clean water and how biosand filters work -Finished up work on hydrofracturing and household treatment Alternative Analysis Reports
November 5, 2017 -Conference call with our contact in Saviefe-Deme, Charles and Ghana ACT volunteer, John. -Discussed plans for the future, and got community input on which type of filter they would prefer to have implemented.
October 31, 2017 -Project Meeting cancelled until word is received on the community's input for the household filtration.
October 24, 2017 -Project Meeting -Begun the meeting with a presentation from team members who have been conducting research on hydrofracturing. -Divided back into teams: hydrofracturing began work on their Alternative Analysis and household treatment teams continued work on their Alternative Analysis
October 16, 2017 -Project Meeting -Split back into teams and continued work on Alternative Analysis Report. -Post-Implementation and Post-Assessment Reports due this Sunday (October 22nd), so the team finished writing and compiling necessary information.
October 10, 2017 -Project Meeting -Split into groups and began writing Alternative Analysis Report on biosand and ceramic pot filtration. Looking into other methods of household treatment to add to the report, such as solar disinfection. -Decision on which specific type of filter to implement has been postponed until the Project Managers speak to our contacts in country about the community's input.
October 3, 2017 -Project Meeting -Continued work in teams for biosand filtration, ceramic pot filtration, and hydrofracking. -Finished up research and begun open discussion about potential methods of household filtration and the pros and cons associated with each. -Next week we plan to decide which filter the best to implement in the Saviefe-Deme community, have a discussion about the hydrofracking process, and hopefully begin the early stages of writing our Alternative Analysis Report.
September 26, 2017 -Project Meeting -Divided into 4 teams of 5-6 people each -Two of the four teams researched further into household filtrations options, one on biosand filtration and the other on ceramic filtration. The third team focused their research on hydrofracking. All this research is to be used towards completing our Alternative Analysis Report. -The fourth team worked on towards the completion of our Post-Implementation and Post-Assessment Reports (Due October 22nd) for the trip we took this August.
September 19, 2017 -First Project Meeting of the year! -Discussed August 2017 Trip with project members -Went over goals for this year. Our first priority is to complete the Post-Implementation and Post-Assessment Reports for our most recent trip. Simultaneously, we aim to begin research on household filtration and hydrofracking so that Alternative Analysis Reports can be completed before Christmas.
August 16, 2017 - August 29, 2017 Travel team departs for Saviefe-Deme! -Met with the elders of the community to get their approval to start construction -Gave presentation to entire community about rainwater catchment system and importance of clean water -Successfully constructed two rainwater catchment systems off of Junior High School and Kindergarten Buildings -Conducted surveys around the village to gauge community's interest in filters and gather data on water consumption -Took water samples from various water sources (i.e. hand-dug wells, boreholes, and stream) in the community to be send to Alaska for testing -Travel team and community celebrates the successful completion of the project during Ghanaian celebration, Bobobo -The travel team says final goodbyes, and departs for Cape Coast for the last two days of the trip -During the last two days the team visits Tafi Monkey Sanctuary, Kakum National Forest, Crocodile Sanctuary, and takes a tour of Cape Coast Slave Castle
July 25, 2017 - August 15, 2017 -Travel team finalized travel details -Completed last steps before departing for Ghana!
July 25, 2017 -EWB-USA Trip Approved!
July 7, 2017 - July 19, 2017 -Travel team works on and submits required travel documents prior to trip approval
July 6, 2017 -Pre-Implementation Report approved!
June 20, 2017 - June 27, 2017 -Received second round of comments on Pre-Implementation Report -Made appropriate adjustments and re-submitted to EWB-USA -Travel team chosen: Akhil Borra, Marzbed Margossian, Victoria Hennon, Sami LeValley, Aidan Bates, Sara Graziani, and professional mentor Dr. Wayne Bates
June 5, 2017 - June 19, 2017 -Received first round of comments back on Pre-Implementation Plan -Worked on Pre-Implementation Plan until all comments were addressed -Re-submitted Pre-Implementation Report -Sent out travel application to project members
May 24, 2017 -Pre-Assessment Plan approved!
May 2, 2017 - May 14, 2017 -Finalized and submitted Pre-Implementation and Pre-Assessment reports to EWB-USA
March 7, 2017-April 25, 2017 -Continued working on pre-implementation report
February 28,2017 -Grant was submitted to EWB -Meeting was cancelled due to low attendance
February 21, 2017 -Continued to work on the pre-implementation report and alternative analysis. -Worked on wrapping on the grant to be submitted on February 27th
February 14th, 2017 -Stayed in the same teams as last time and worked on the alternative analysis, pre-implementation report and grants
February 7th, 2017 - Updated team about rainwater catchment system and biosand filter development. New RWC system will be placed on two separate roofs with the tank placed in between to maximize catchment area. Also informed team about the new project managers -- congratulations Sami LeValley and Victoria Hennon!! - Alternative Analysis form submitted during Winter Break was returned for edits, began implementing the suggestions provided by our Project Engineer, Melissa Montgomery. - Began compiling RWC system/Biosand filter research that was collected over the course of previous semester into a report that will eventually be submitted to EWB-USA. - Began filling out EWB-USA grants to fund implementation trip occurring at end of summer.
