Concept of Proposal

By Humana People to People India Posted on Mon 18 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

Dear Friend,
The idea of the project proposal is very good and proposal itself describe all its parameters.
wish you all the best
Kusum

Rainwater harvesting and another Cambodian org

By Peer Water Exchange Posted on Mon 08 Aug 2011, over 13 years ago

What is the rainfall pattern in Cambodia?

I was referred to this website of an organization working in Cambodia on RWH, ceramic water filters, and rope pumps: RDI Cambodia. They create spherical RWH systems, which is quite innovative, at very low costs.

Something to consider,
Rajesh

Numbers and Oversight

By Blue Planet Network Posted on Sun 24 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

I am glad to see the expansion of the EMW process in Cambodia. Are you getting the meters of the same quality locally or importing them?

Can you provided a more detailed budget with the prices in local currency in excel (what's with all the US organizations supplying pdf while all others put excel docs)?
Please explain what is the "Research" and "Labour Fee for completion" costs.

Where is the G&A component? How much allocated to US office and to the Vietnam office? Putting it in every line item is an interesting way to allocate but at least the amount should be specified.
Are any of the project staff shared between the 4 Cambodia projects?

I see Danica is acting as the liason between EMW staff (e.g. Narin, who has his own login) and PWX. Any plans to encourage the local Cambodian team to use PWX to report on activities and show progress?

The monitoring plan is that the villagers report weekly or monthly. How does that happen? What data is captured? How do you maintain the logs? Have you done it for the earlier project(s)?

Thanks,
Rajesh

Numbers and Oversight

By East Meets West Foundation Posted on Mon 25 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

Hi Rajesh,

We were planning on having the Cambodia staff use the PWX system, but with the tight timeline and technical issues I have been acting as a liaison. We are certainly planning to have the Cambodian staff complete all of the progress reports and updates during the implementation and post-implementation stages.

Regarding the monitoring. EMW conducts at least 4 site visits during the first year, calls regularly, as well as collects periodical written evaluations from the water managers which contain the water usage logs, maintenance logs, as well as any issues with the system. In between these regular evaluations, the water managers are always able to call EMW if there are any issues.

Best Wishes,
Danica

Numbers and Oversight

By East Meets West Foundation Posted on Wed 27 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

Rajesh,

I am working with the Vietnam and Cambodia staff to get the answers to the rest of your budget questions and should be able to post the answers tomorrow.

Danica

Technology

By Agua Para La Salud (APLS) Posted on Sat 16 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

In the technology section you list 10elements of the water system. Would you post pictures and / or designs of these 10 elements and their costs?

Technology

By Agua Para La Salud (APLS) Posted on Mon 18 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

I will need these designs and / or photos to properly review your project. Will you post them soon? Thank-you

Technology

By East Meets West Foundation Posted on Wed 20 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

Hi Lynn,

We will have the system diagrams and detailed budget for you tomorrow.

Sorry for the delay.

Danica

Technology

By East Meets West Foundation Posted on Fri 22 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

We have just uploaded a diagram of the water system as well as a detailed budget of the treatment plant.

Best,
Danica

Re: Technology

By Blue Planet Network Posted on Sun 24 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

Thanks. I see an increased complexity and energy consumption due to two pumping stations.

We have a design with the rapid sand filter on top of the OHT and then you only need one pump from the borewell to the top of the OHT.

Isn't this proposal to create a water system like the US where even flushing water is drinking quality? Wouldn't a simpler system with a household biosand filter at the drinking water points be much more efficient and effective?

I live in an affluent community in Bangalore living off ground water 50m (similar borewell and OHT) and we don't treat any of the water except point-of-use household filters. Its fine for bathing and all household use except drinking. We have high TDS but no (or little) biological contamination. Is the situation very different in Cambodia?

Thanks,
Rajesh

Re: Technology

By East Meets West Foundation Posted on Mon 25 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

We have traditionally built EMW water systems with the two pumps as eliminating one pump requires that the filter be mounted on top of the water tower which causes a few different complications.

1) The water tower is much more expensive as it needs a much larger foundation to support the extra weight of the filters and still must withstand often strong winds in the region.

2) Repairs and monitoring are much more difficult with the filters on the top of the tower, as the water manager must climb to the top daily to monitor; repairs are also more difficult for the same reason.

Regarding the water quality--this proposal is not meant to create a water system similar to that in the US. The water that arrives in the households is for domestic use and must be boiled for consumption. Because of this, the water quality is tested not only for arsenic but also for other types of biological contamination to ensure that the types of filtration will produce healthy water for domestic purposes and drinking.

clarification

By Pure Water for the World Posted on Fri 15 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

1) how many people are getting sanitation? 1819 shown but 80% have already. no sanitation construction work discussed in proposal.
2) proposal says slow sand filter then lists a rapid sand filter. please reconcile. what is the function of the up flow tank?
3) the system seems dependent on electricity. how reliable is the supply and is the cost included in the maintenance?
4) if the pump breaks, who repairs it? is there a manual override to provide water during power outages and pump maintenance?
5) will chlorine be added to the product water to prevent contamination in the distribution system?

clarification

By East Meets West Foundation Posted on Mon 18 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

Carolyn,

1) The number of people participating in the Hygiene Awareness Campaign (1,819 people) are classified as receiving 'sanitation benefits' as opposed to being classified as receiving 'other benefits.'
2) The system will use a rapid sand filter. (I have reconciled the discrepancy)

Our team in Cambodia will get back to you with the rest of the answers soon.
Thanks for the questions.

Danica

clarification - post by Narin Phouv, EMW Cambodia

By East Meets West Foundation Posted on Tue 19 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

2) The upflow tank slows the flow of the water in order for sediment/contamination to separate before the water enters the rapid sand filter.

3) Yes the system needs electricity to run the pumps and the costs for this are included in the monthly usage fees.

4)The Water Management Committee (WMC) is responsible for any malfunctions with the water system. If the problem is minor, the WMC can fix it and if it is a major problem they can contract a technician to repair the system. All fee for maintenance are also covered by the monthly usage fees.

5)Yes, chlorine will be added in to the product water to prevent contamination in the distribution system.

clarification on 1

By East Meets West Foundation Posted on Thu 18 Aug 2011, over 13 years ago

1) Just to clarify, we have moved the Hygiene Awareness Campaign beneficiaries into the 'other benefits' category.

Danica

clarification

By Team Blue Posted on Thu 21 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

No one should ever finance the construction of an electricity driven water system unless access to the power is clearly agreed upon between the local electricity authority, the local government, and agreement and willingness to pay for services among the prospective power consumers. There are existing protocols for the length of the power lines and power demand (# of consumers and average power consumption per person).

Identification of qualified support personnel needs to be agreed upon in coordination with the local authorities before any construction gets underway.

Chlorine will quite likely be included in all of the water systems co-financed through the PWX program.

If the pump fails, the person who should have been identified as an integral part of the water system design, will deal with the problem. In some cases, there may be a "circuit rider" who is responsible for operating and maintaining a set of water systems within a prescribed area.

Circuit Rider and replacement costs

By Agua Para La Salud (APLS) Posted on Sat 23 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

We have seen a number of communities go without water for long periods because they did not plan to collect funds to buy new pumps when they were not repairable. What amount of funds are kept in reserve to pay these costs.

Are the Circuit Riders permanent, trained paid individuals or are they selected volunteers from the villages that have a limited( 1 year) tenure?

What regulations are in place to deal with individuals who cannot pay or will not pay the monthly fees?

Circuit Rider and replacement / backup costs

By Team Blue Posted on Sun 24 Jul 2011, over 13 years ago

It is standard practice that the O&M cost calculations should ALWAYS include a reasonably sufficient amount of money to cover all anticipated standard expenses, including electricity, qualified technical staff, spare and replacement parts and materials).

Not all communities are likely to have to have easy and immediate access to (or readily available money to pay for) well-qualified technical personnel to deal with on-site problems, so it is not uncommon for a highly qualified technical person to service more complex problems (pump breakdowns, component failures such as chlorinators, water meters, electricity, chemicals, etc.).

It is important to establish a reliable supply chain for all the necessary goods, materials and skilled personnel to keep the water system fully functional over the long term. To help insure access to spare parts and services, it is desirable to have a backup source of goods and materials. While this is an extra cost, it is likely to minimize outage periods over the long term.

Regarding circuit riders, they are indeed permanent, trained (of course) who would be able to provide repair/replacement service on short notice.

Regarding long term planning, typically the most important short term cost requirement (at least for pumped systems) is when the pump itself fails and requires repair or replacement.

If for any reason water consumers are unwilling to pay for the standard water services, there should be an extra charge for providing those services after the water user is able to mobilize funding from alternative resources. The only situation where this may not be the case would be indigent customers who are simply unable to pay for services, such as very old or ill families.