Spring 2023 Projects

Spring 2023 Project Class Projects

La Recta de Sanita (DR) – Water Systems:
Group members are continuing the work done by EWB this past semester, continuing
contact with community members in La Recta de Sanita, and prepping for our first
visit to the DR in March. The group will be split into two subsets: one group will be
focused on learning to convert GPS data points to use in GIS mapping, and the other one
examining the existing water system in the community. Descriptions for both are as follows:
GIS Group: The first half of the semester will consist of learning GIS (Geographic Information
Systems) software and in the second, students will convert the GPS data points
collected on the assessment trip and create a GIS map of La Recta de Sanita.
Water Systems Group: This group will do further research about the problems the community of
La Recta de Sanita faces to help the travel team prepare for their trip, and after
the assessment visit, students will explore options to repair the existing water
system in the community.

 

  • Water System/Research Group: The second group will do further research about the problems the community of La Recta de Sanita faces to help the travel team prepare for their trip, and after the assessment visit, students will explore options to repair the existing water system in the community.
Stillwater Project – Water Distribution:
Students will continue to build on previous semesters of work designing solutions to dead ends and
making water infrastructure improvements to help transition the Town of Stillwater NJ from a
seasonal to year-round community. Tasks include modelling piping solutions in EPANET, performing a
sensitivity analysis, analyzing feasibility of designs, and meeting with various stakeholders
in the project. The goal of this semester is to complete and present an
Engineering Report for submission at the end of the spring semester.
Dieruff High School:
Students will maintain established communications with Dieruff High School and do further
research and testing of their courtyard drainage and pond filtration problems. Tasks will include
performing certain tests such as a percolation test, storm drain analysis, and further research into the
feasibility of the two possible project choices. The group will build on existing design options and
create a realistic timeline of completion.
Project Initiation:
This group will be tasked with finding larger local domestic projects. Tasks include researching communities
in a ~50 mile radius, creating an application form to distribute to local communities to request a
consult from Lehigh EWB, and creating partnerships with larger local humanitarian organizations
that will give EWB an opportunity to get involved in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. The goals of
this semester are to acquire a large domestic project that can be sustained by the club, and also
create a mechanism through which communities can apply for Lehigh EWB’s assistance.

Spring 2023 Social Class Projects

 

Local Projects

Over the past few years, students have worked on various local projects such as designing a mini library in South Bethlehem and implementing a water distribution system in the Bethlehem Community Gardens on Goodman Campus. In the past students have designed a field house for the Marching 97 on Goodman Campus, observing restoration of the Knauss Homestead, designing a plyometric park in South Bethlehem, and implementing the Parklet in front of Roasted on Fourth Street from July to November 2019.

Current International Projects

LA RECTA DE SANITA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

La Recta de Sanita is a small community of about 900 in the Dominican Republic, south of Monte Cristi. The community lacks access to sufficient, safe water for drinking and other household uses, as well as indoor plumbing. In a survey done of 150 households in the community, 54% of households used bottled water for drinking, and 42% drank water from government-operated water tanks. However, just a few months after this survey was performed, the government suspended access to the water truck service, which forced more households to use bottled water or drink the contaminated water. Additionally, none of the households surveyed had indoor plumbing and many shared a latrine between multiple households. Working with AgroFrontera (NGO) and La Recta de Sanita’s Neighborhood Council, we hope to help them solve these challenges as soon as possible.

The Lehigh University EWB chapter initially started working with La Recta de Sanita in the summer of 2022 to gain preliminary information on the issues they were facing. Currently in the 2022 fall semester, a project and social class is assigned to this community. The project class is mainly working on the pre-trip assessment and doing preparatory research on water sanitation and distribution systems, while the social class is researching the social aspect of our travel and how to best help the community.

The assessment trip was completed in March of 2023 (Spring Break), and the travel team has begun work on the post-trip assessment, which is due 8 weeks after the assessment trip.