July 12, 2012
Arup helps develop solar powered water pumping solutions
Arup engineers at work looking into solar powered water pumping solutions.
Arup, a global multidisciplinary design firm and long-time WaterAid
supporter, recently launched a new staff-led initiative to provide
technical assistance to WaterAid's newest program in Nicaragua. Joshua
Briemberg, Country Representative for WaterAid in Nicaragua, visited
Arup in January 2012 to share program updates and identified several
technical challenges WaterAid is currently facing in the field. WaterAid's Nicaragua program focuses on the isolated north Caribbean region of the country, where 80% of people live without safe drinking water or toilets.
The first
challenge that WaterAid presented was related to solar
powered pumping systems to pump water from surface water sources and
wells to elevated storage tanks.
WaterAid is excited to put Arup's ideas to work in the field.
- Joshua Briemberg, Country Representative, WaterAid, Nicaragua
WaterAid requested Arup's
advice and recommendations on how best to secure these solar panels. A team of four Arup
engineers stepped up to the challenge and studied a number of solar power and pumping options, with a
focus on developing a solution that can work at the numerous sites in
Nicaragua.
The Arup team has developed a graphical tool that provides a quick
assessment, giving an estimate of how much water needs to be pumped and
how many solar panels will be required to meet that demand.
Teams of Arup engineers are also working to research, problem-solve and provide
technical assistance to WaterAid on related issues such as the security and safety of the
panels and pumps, water filtration systems, and possible
rainwater harvesting options.
The Arup team has made great progress on this
since the partnership launch on
World Water Day, on March 22, 2012.
Joshua Briemberg stated, "I can't thank the Arup team enough for the
hundreds of hours spent collectively on their research and evaluation.
The next step is for us to begin to apply this tool at a specific site.
We have located a school in the community of Auhya Pihni and will be
working in the coming weeks to confirm this as a pilot site. WaterAid is
excited to continue working with Arup and put their ideas to work in
the field."
For further information or interviews, please contact: Susannah Gold, WaterAid, on + 1 917 207 5375 or
sgold@wateraidamerica.org