El Salvador 2013

This project consisted of a water tank that was placed in Palo Mar, allowing easy access to all residents. With the implementation of this tank, residents have quick access to water without having to travel long distances. Palo Mar, El Salvador is a small town home to 280 residents with no easy access to clean water. The nearby city has no pipeline connecting to Palo Mar, and the only pump from the nearby spring is intermittent. This pump is not even accessible to the entire community, clearly making water availability the most pressing issue in the community. During the dry season, there are serious water rations put into effect for community members.

A team of Duke undergraduates traveled this past summer to El Salvador to help solve this problem. The project consisted of designing a water tank to capture rainwater and store it, very similar to the function of the natural spring. However, the water tank was placed in the town, allowing easy access to all residents. With the implementation of this tank, residents have quick access to water without having to travel long distances.