Bandera de las Américas, adoptada como símbolo
de las Américas por la séptima conferencia
internacional Americana de Montevideo
el 13 de diciembre de 1933.
June 12, 2015 — A group of Fairfield University engineering students is
helping a rural farming community in Bolivia get access to safe drinking water.
The Fairfield students, along with a student chapter of "Engineers
Without Borders" from South Dakota State University, traveled to the
Unidad Academia Campesina (UAC) in Carmen Pampa, where expansive growth has
created challenges with providing adequate potable water systems.
The students used their mechanical engineering skills to work on a water
treatment system under the guidance of Bruce Berdanier, professor and dean of
Fairfield’s School of Engineering.
Thanks to their efforts, two chlorinators at UAC were implemented and
now provide drinking water that meets World Health Organization standards for
developing countries. Residents of the region have reported a 50 percent
reduction in stomach distress since the work by the students was completed last
year.
“I think that a major part of what engineers do is to provide a
service,” said Berdanier. “They see a problem and collaborate to fix it with
their skills and knowledge.”
As a Jesuit institution, Fairfield places a high priority on service
projects, and the trip allowed the students to see the impact of their work.
"I like how you can see your work benefitting a community,” said Katherine
Pitz, a senior mechanical engineering major.
The students look forward to returning to the Bolivian community. “I think the
most important thing about it is to help [Bolivians] learn to improve the
systems themselves, so they do not have to rely on anyone in the future. Maybe
they will be able to build a similar system in other places in Bolivia where
clean water is needed,” said Pitz.
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