Search

This study investigated the effectiveness of metal and nutrient removal from stormwater in bioretention systems amended with agricultural byproducts. Both batch and column studies were cond...

This paper presents the preliminary stages of a research program centered on the development of a systems approach to water and sanitation service management and operation. Given high failure rates of rural water and sanitation infrastructure in developing countries, the sector now points to “systems approaches” as ways for practitioners and service stakeholders to understand the economic, institutional, political, environmental, and technical externalities that drive sustained service provision. Unfortunately, systems approaches and techniques often rely on expensive or inaccessible forms of quantitative data and are inaccessible to local stakeholders. Moreover, limited evidence exists for the true benefits of a systems approach in supporting sustained service provision. This research aims to fill these gaps by developing and refining an accessible participatory systems mapping approach to modeling factor interaction as a means to improve identification and characterization of leverage points for improved policy and practice for water and sanitation services. Coupled with this, application of computer models of the water and sanitation systems will help to identify areas of technical vulnerability that, alongside stakeholder interviews, will help prioritize which technical interventions, if any, would be most effective.

International experiential learning programs are becoming increasingly common and can be complex in both format and content. Due to the complexity of these programs, highlighting lessons learned is a critical activity for future program growth and improvement. In this vein, our paper highlights and learns from two international experiential learning activities in engineering, both at the undergraduate level, that focused on water supply infrastructure: one, a project-based experience in an urban setting in Amazonia Peru; the other, a mixed project and course-based experience in rural Chile. Overarching lessons learned from both programs relate to in-country partners, trip preparation, and interaction with local people. Site and partner selection that builds upon relationships and the clear articulation of expectations from both sides is critical for success. Both programs also highlighted the value of intensive trip preparation, including course organization, pre-trip team meetings, book studies, learning the local language, and meetings with local partners. Both programs suffered in their own way due to lack of meaningful interaction with one local people group or another. Throughout the paper, we highlight further insights and implications, whether unique or crosscutting, and link these to recommendations for future international experiential learning program development.

This paper describes the humanitarian effort to help bring clean water and solar power to people in need along the Amazon River in Nauta, Peru. George Fox University partnered with JungleMaster Ministries to create a long-term development plan, beginning with a full prototype of the system at the NGO's house in Nauta. The engineering design, installation, and test of the system are discussed in detail, along with a unique data acquisition system that was successfully employed and is currently recording data and sending it back to the USA for daily monitoring.

Management decisions concerning the spraying of herbicides on highway roadsides are evaluated on the basis of their impact on resulting environmental risk. A mathematical transport model was previously applied to the State of California with a Monte Carlo technique, and in this study the results are manipulated to evaluate the risk reduction that results from restricting herbicide application on the basis of site characteristics or changing other application practices. Results show that eliminating herbicide applications where the slope of the grass adjacent to the highway is greater than 30° has little or no effect on risk. Eliminating application where the width of the grass adjacent to the highway is less than 2 m or where soil organic carbon content is less than 0.5% can lead to significant reductions in environmental risk for certain herbicides. Additionally, limiting the width of the spray zone and applying the minimum manufacturer-suggested application rate reduce the risk to aquatic ecosystems. Applying at the minimum rate has the greatest potential to decrease risk. Results of this study show that management decisions can have a significant effect on limiting herbicide runoff risks to aquatic ecosystems. Decision makers would have to weigh costs of alternatives to herbicide spraying for controlling roadside vegetation against the environmental risk reductions.