Here are some frequently asked questions answered! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask us in the comments!
What is the purpose of your project?
The goal of this project is to build a first-flush diverter, The Sustainable Rainwater Flush Diverter, which is to be used as a crucial component in a rainwater collection and filtration system. In collaboration with Drexel University’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), the flush diverter will be implemented into the rainwater filtration system used in Miramar, El Salvador, and, as such, must be constructed in a way that is sustainable for the third-world community.
What materials will you be using?
While our materials will be purchased in the United States, we are striving to make sure all materials we use are affordable, long-lasting, and available in Miramar or surrounding system hence the term "sustainability" in the project's title. We will most likely use PVC pipes, ping pong balls, and other minor materials for our rudimentary prototype, although we hope that more environmentally sustainable and accessible materials, such as bamboo, can be utilized in-country.
What are the greatest challenges of this project?
The greatest challenges we are facing during this project are the ambiguity of data received from Miramar, prototype material research/acquisition, and prototype construction.
Although we have not been to Miramar ourselves, we are working in conjunction with the EWB organization as well as our advisor, Matthew VanKouwenberg, who has made several trips to Miramar and has collected some data there. Therefore, we must rely for our research on the little written observations by the EWB travel team, word-of-mouth responses from our advisor, and any pertinent information available on the Internet or the EWB website. This makes accurate calculations difficult but allows some customization to Miramar conditions, such as roof size.
Additionally, we are working with EWB to accommodate the acquisition of materials as they may spare parts that can be used to build our prototype. The final challenge will be prototype construction: we will have to find both the time and the space to create the physical deliverable and store it during the week. We also need to have some experience/knowledge with workshops and operating the machinery.
What will be the effects of your project if it is successful?
We hope to improve the quality of life of the residents of Miramar by helping them collect cleaner sources of water, collected from rainwater runoff. Combined with the bio-sand filters installed by members of the Drexel chapter of Engineers without Borders, the town of Miramar will have greater access to pure drinking water, increasing the total water supply and reducing the risk of dangerous water-borne illnesses.
