The goal of water analysis is to eventually be able to monitor the quality of the filters and the water of all 8 fountains in Cange and in the rest of the Central Plateau to be able to ensure that the water quality is not altered. We aim to monitor this right from a computer screen.
The Solid Waste Management (SWM) team has continued its research into solutions to Cange’s waste problem. The town of Cange continues to struggle with the accumulation of waste, with no viable method to dispose of it. The goal of the SWM team is to research a method that would allow the town to properly dispose of a portion of their waste while also serving a positive role in the local economy.
In developing countries like Haiti, access to sanitation and hygiene lessons are minimal. This is caused by the lack of quality and participation in the education system. In Haiti, 78% of students drop out by the end of primary school and only 60% of adults are literate. Even when students are in school, they often do not have access to sanitation and hygiene lessons. Lack of knowledge on these subjects can lead to many illnesses and often death in developing countries.
The scope of the Slow Sand Filter Project focuses on implementing an effective water filtration system in areas with a lack of access to clean water, like in Cange, Haiti. In order to make this project cost effective the team aims to construct a system that is reliable and easily maintained. Slow sand filters are a known method of removing pathogens and other contaminants from water, therefore making it safe to drink.
Within the Central Plateau of Haiti, there are numerous rural communities that are isolated from important resources such as hospitals, markets, and educational institutions due to a lack of infrastructure. While there are established transportation systems in the country, there are communities located in mountainous areas where there is no established infrastructure. One specific community in the Central Plateau is the village of Morne Michel.
The Grand Savane is a 105-acre plateau, resting 800 feet above the village of Cange in the Central Plateau of Haiti. This plateau cycles through seasonal drought caused by the drastic change in rainfall that can be observed for half of the year. The large change in rainfall prevents farmers of Cange and surrounding areas to have year-round income and produce higher yields.
Due to the limited amount of resources and lack of advanced tools in rural Haiti, clean water is a luxury many simply cannot afford. Many different communities do not have the financial ability to have a properly working water filter. This is where the DIY Water Filter team steps in. The main goal is to help provide a simple, yet effective water filter that can be developed using the materials in Haiti that are cheap and inexpensive.
The Concrete Masonry Unit project (CMU) aims to establish a reliable and economical production model for CMU produced in Haiti’s Central Plateau that includes recommendations for souring materials, manufacturing, and distribution, as well as a testing mechanism that is appropriate, consistent, and easy to operate. The project draws inspiration from the catastrophic earthquake that occurred in Haiti in 2010.
The work and impact that Clemson Engineers for Developing Countries has had in Haiti are unique in their breadth and effectiveness. While the work that has been done has been successful, much more work still needs to be done in order to improve the overall quality of life in Haiti to international standards. Based on this premise, CEDC has an opportunity to expand and continue its work in order to positively affect even more communities. In order to accomplish this, our mission is to establish a living-learning Center of Excellence in the Central Plateau of Haiti to be a base through which CEDC can continue its work and a model that addresses global challenges and sustainable development goals.
Those living in developing countries often do not have a proper way to dispose and treat human waste, leading to rampant spread of diseases such as cholera. In Haiti, most people openly defecate or use pit latrines. Because of this, fecal matter contaminates the water supply. Biodigesters provide a way to sustainably treat waste and prevent disease. They retain and break down solid waste through anaerobic digestion and then release methane and a nutrient-rich effluent.