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PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE EWB-ORANGE COUNTY PROFESSIONAL CHAPTER
April 2015
EWB-OC NEWSLETTER
Announcements
Project lead
opening for El
Salvador project
Membership
coordinator
opening
Need volunteers
for Corazon
upcoming trip in
month of May
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Greetings and welcome to the Engineers
Without Borders Orange County Professional
Chapter newsletter! 2015 is proving to be an
exciting year for our club as we continue to
implement sustainable, wide-reaching water
and sanitation programs in our partner
communities around the world. In this
newsletter we look forward to updating you on
the status of our active programs in Kenya,
Honduras and Mexico, and letting you know
about other chapter events such as our inaugural local project in partnership
with the San Diego Zoo.
We are continuously receiving requests, both locally and internationally, for support in helping raise the quality of life for developing communities
via the provision of sustainable infrastructure, and supporting STEM outreach
and non-profit organizations right here in Orange County. Thus please continue
to help spread the word of our great organizations. We are an engineeringcentered organization, but need many other skill sets within our team. To get
such impactful projects off the ground, we welcome skilled project managers,
linguists, and anyone with a passion for our objectives – we guarantee that we
will put you to work !
Please contact me directly any time at [email protected] with any
Questions or ideas for your group.
In This Issue
 President’s Column
Sincerely,
Angela Whiteside
 Project Updates:
o
o
o
o
Kenya
Honduras
Corazon
Upcoming Projects
 Members Spotlight
[Type text]
 Fundraising and Events
Join our Mailing List
Engineers and non-engineers
of all backrounds. Find out how you can get involved today.
Check out our website at www.ewb-oc.org
Kenya
Project Update and Future Outlook
By Servando Diaz
The month of March marks one full year since our latest trip to Kenya. During this last
trip we completed the roof-based Rainwater Catchment phase of our Water Project. The
project left the community with the ability to store over 2000 gallons of usable rainwater.
The unfinished phase of our Project, which included the drilling and development of a
shallow Well, was halted due to incomplete permitting required to tap the aquifer. We
are currently working with the local Water Resources Management Authority to resolve
this issue at which time we will send a final team to complete this project. In the
meantime, we have been contacted by another community in the eastern part of Kenya
that is in desperate need of water supply solutions. Look out for more details on our
open and future projects.
Capped Water Well
The Samburu Woman Pulling Stored Water
Get
GetInvolved
InvolvedininKenya
KenyaProject
Project
Project Team Meeting
Date: Every last Monday of each month
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: RBF Consulting, 14725 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618-2069
*detailed calendar see, http://ewb-oc.org/calendar/
For more information or question, please contact Servando Diaz @ [email protected]
Honduras
Project Update and Future Outlook
By Adaoha Changa-Ollivierre
On October 2014, two engineers travelled to Olancho,
Honduras to assess the work on the concrete tank. During this
trip the engineers were able to collaborate with city officials and
community leaders to discuss the status of the project and
confirm the donation of materials for the distribution system.
The engineers also provided structural guidance and oversight
on the pouring of concrete for the elevated floor of the tank.
Once the elevated floor was completed, a couple weeks
later the walls were then poured and as of March this year, the
final concrete was poured on the roof to complete the 20,000
gallon water storage tank. This is a huge milestone as it
signifies the end of the first phase of the water project. We are
now ready to set the wheels in motion for the second phase of
the project. This phase entails installing the new well, the
Completed Water Tank
electrical pump, and pipelines and valves to connect to the 135
homes. We expect to accomplish these tasks during the next
two trips, which are scheduled in May and July of this year.
On behalf of the Honduras team we would like to thank everyone for their ongoing
support and commitment throughout the project.
OC EWB Volunteers and Community in Olancho, Honduras
Get
Get Involved
Involved in
in Honduras
Honduras Project
Project
Project Team Meeting
Date: Every other Wednesdays
Time: 6:30pm – 7:00pm
Location: Tetra Tech, 17885 Von Karman, Suite 500, Irvine, CA 92614
Conference Call: (866) 692-5721, Pass-code: 9878785
*detailed calendar see, http://ewb-oc.org/calendar/
For more information or question, please contact Steve Tedesco @ [email protected]
Corazon
Project Update and Future Outlook
Corazon Septic Tank Project, at Tecate, Mexico
EWB-OC has been working closely with local non-profit organization Corazon and the Yorba
Linda Rotary Club since December 2014to implement the first waste solution for Corazon's newly
built houses in the underprivileged community of Tecate, Mexico. Under Sean Callan's leadership, a
group of volunteers met regularly to refine a septic tank combined with leach field solution that fit
the needs of the organization and community resources available. On March 7, 2015, the EWB-OC
team completed the final connections to the first bathroom installation. Team member Modesto
went over the operation of the toilet with home owners and they were delighted for their new
house and bathroom. Corazon is also very pleased with the entire operation. EWB-OC is now
investigating the next phase of the project partnership, and how more homes can be provided with
an effective septic system.
Septic Tank Final Connection on March 7, 2015
Community and Project Site Visit on Jan. 31, 2015
Septic Tank Installation on Feb. 21, 2015
Toilet Installation on March 7, 2015
For more information or question, please contact Sean Callan at [email protected]
Upcoming Projects
Project Milagro, El Salvador
We are preparing to restart our project El Milagro in El
Salvador. It is located about 10 miles east of San Salvador. The
communities are: Las Delicias, El Rosario, Las Animas. ENLACE, the
local NGO, works with poor communities to develop sustainable
solutions for clean water, sanitation, nutrition, health, education,
healthcare, and infrastructure. Project Milagro is a grassroots
water supply project that serves approximately 10,000 people or
2,000 families. This project has developed from a basic community
need that has existed for decades. Waterborne illness and
delivery is a long-standing problem those who cannot afford to
buy water must labor several times a day to draw water from river,
stream, and spring sources that are typically unsafe for potable
water needs.
EWB-OC is to provide both technical design support and periodic oversight during the major
construction, installation, and operation activities. Currently, they need recommendations related to
the interconnection of wells, pumps, and water tanks. Other piping work would include: confirming
the design of main pipelines to tanks, evaluating pumping requirements, reviewing a pipe ravine
crossover, and assisting with the distribution piping to the communities. Additionally they would like
assistance with some structural work associated with the pumping stations. A foundational principle
of ENLACE is that all projects be managed and done with “local mentality and capability” in mind.
For more information or question, please contact Medesto Llanos at [email protected]
San Deigo Safari Park Bridge Project
The project is intended to make four existing bridges within the park usable for people and
vehicles, including ADA accessibility, by adding safety railings to each. The San Diego Zoo's Safari
Park project is being pursued in cooperation with EWB-OC and has participation from ASCE and EWB
members, Flatiron Constructors and Nossaman (a SoCal legal firm). Our next steps include finalizing
a Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a cost estimate, developing a schedule and starting
to determine the fund raising efforts necessary to meet the cost and schedule requirements. ASCEOC is providing design services and EWB-OC is providing Construction Management services - and
fundraising efforts.
For more information or question, please contact Greg Henk at [email protected]
MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT
HONDURAS – BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
By Steve Tedesco
Matt Lipa a structural engineer
worked with the students at Cal
State Long Beach to complete the
structural design of the tank. He
has served as the chief engineer
on the project throughout the
project’s construction. Every time
the contractor got a section of the
tank completed Matt received
pictures and phone calls from
Honduras to get his approval
before the project moved forward.
He has been involved with the
tank since the very beginning and
was instrumental in completing
this critical portion of the Honduras
Water Project. (picture to the right)
Alex Quinonez also a structural engineer
made two separate trips to Honduras to
inspect the construction work on the tank.
During his trips he coordinated with the local
contractor do ensure that the tank
construction met the design requirements of
the project. He also meet with Olancho Aid
the NGO and numerous community
members. His excellent communication skills
and command of the Spanish language were
a tremendous help to our team. He sacrificed
a considerable amount of his own personnel
time to make two week long trips to
Honduras. (picture to the left)
In addition we would like to thank several other Honduras team members who have worked
hard to move the project forward including: Adaoha Changa-Ollivierre and Ankit Patel who also
traveled to Honduras to perform tank inspections; Ben Smith, Elias Sebhata, Joe Dietz, Tom
Fehr, and Mark Donovan who provided design support; along with Gary Gilbert and Steve
Tedesco who served as team leaders on the project.
Thank you for all your great works!
FUNDRAISING
By Anand Helekar
A fundraiser was held at Farrell’s
Ice Cream Parlour in Buena Park on
Thursday, March 26th. Several members
of Engineers Without Borders were able to
attend the fundraiser, along with family and
friends. Farrell’s has always been
committed to participating in fundraisers for
schools and other community causes.
Farrell’s was extremely glad to host this
fundraiser for Engineers Without Borders,
and would like to host future fundraising
events for us. Those that attended enjoyed
the food and ice cream along with good
company and Farrell’s friendly hospitality.
Future social fundraising events will be
scheduled, and we hope to see everyone
there!
For more information, question, any
suggestion, please contact Anand Helekar
@ [email protected]
UPCOMING EVENTS
OC Science Fair Volunteer
Date: April 22, 2015
Description: The OC Science Fair is still in great need for judges to help support this fastGrowing event. Please consider supporting STEM education and talent in our area!
For more information: http://www.ocsef.org or contact Angela Whiteside
Monthly OC EWB Board Meetings
Date: April 28, 2015; May 26, 2015; June 23, 2015, July 28, 2015
*detailed calendar see, http://ewb-oc.org/calendar/
Corazon Project Volunteer
Date: Late May/ Early June
Description: The Corzaon project needs 10 volunteers traveling to Tecate, Mexico to
conduct surveys and evaluate homes with a bathroom involved with Corazon for physical
capability to be retrofitted with a septic tank system.
Thank You
A huge thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers, friends and
sponsors, new and old. It is your hard work and support that sustains
our tremendous impact in the communities in which we serve. There
is still so much need in the developed world for infrastructural
solutions to improve the basic quality of life, that we are always
welcoming of new volunteers and sponsors alike to help us spread
our reach. If you are interested in any aspect of our organization or
would like to see how you can help, please email me directly at
[email protected]
President, Angela Whiteside
EWB-OC Board
Executive Board:
Angela Whiteside
President
[email protected]
Medesto Llanos
Vice President
[email protected]
Michelle Biery
Secretary
[email protected]
Roger Schlierkamp
Treasurer
[email protected]
Committee Chairs
Anand Heleker
Fundraising
Coordinator/Corpor
ate Sponsors/ Corp.
Challenge Chair
[email protected]
Susan Griesbach
Web
Coordinator/ IT
[email protected]
Greg Henk
ASCE Liaison
[email protected]
Ashley Ciglar
Student Chapter
Liaison
[email protected]
Ker Chia Chen
PR/Events
Coordinator/
Newsletter Editor
[email protected]
Modesto Llanos
Rotary Liaison
[email protected]
Project Leads
Servando Diaz
Kenya Team
[email protected]
Steve Tedesco
Honduras Team
[email protected]
Sean Callan
Corazon Team
[email protected]
STAY CONNECTED TO
EWB-OC
Engineers Without Borders
Orange County Professionals
Attn: EWB-OC
P.O. Box 18134
Irvine, CA 92623
Website: http://www.ewb-oc.org
Facebook: Engineers Without Borders
Orange County Professionals
Instagram: ewboc
Twitter: @ewboc