Engineer Water Systems Abroad
Empowered Engineering Consultants travel abroad on 7-10 day engineering trips to Honduras or Guatemala to consult local community leaders to develop and engineer a water system in a rural community. Participants test and determine flow rates of water sources, plan piping routes, and design water system infrastructure with the support of local engineers.
Consulting Activities
Community Water Assessment
Engineering consultants will visit a community to meet with both leaders and families to learn about their community, water sources, assets and needs. Participants work to understand the limitations and challenges of current water sources and collect water samples. Consultants then work with local staff to provide a recommendation on feasible solutions.
Mapping, Surveying and Project Design
Empowered Consultants work alongside Global Brigades engineers and technical staff to measure, map and design components of a new system or improve existing designs. Participants will also create a budget and material lists while taking into account community feedback.
System Design Presentation
Empowered Consultants meet with the community to explain the details of the water system design, including budget and proposed timeline. Staff and volunteers ensure the entire community and leaders take ownership of the plan and understand what they will need to get done in order to bring water to their community.
Water System Follow-Up
Consultants visit a community where a past completed water project has been implemented in order to provide follow-up. Participants meet with community leaders and review the operation, maintenance, and current state of the water system.
Water System Construction
The water system designed during the Empowered Engineering Consulting trip does not get implemented until our local staff has identified funding sources, set up a Basic Sanitation Committee, and the community agrees to pay monthly fees to the local committee for on-going maintenance. This guarantees the long-term sustainability of the program.
