Project Types
Rainwater harvesting projects consist of creating a diversion for rainwater, a system of distribution and a means of storage. The rainwater harvesting projects that BPRF has funded have involved lining existing or new rooftops with gutters to direct rainwater into attached piping that is connected to covered storage tanks. These tanks are connected to hand pumps that distribute water to communities. Water in the tanks is treated chemically to ensure safety for drinking.
Bore holes are deep and narrow shafts in the ground used for extracting water. They are used as water wells where piped water supplies are not existent.
Rope pumps are mounted on top of handdug or drilled wells. The rope spins on a wheel that has a handle that when turned, lifts water out of the well and out the attached faucet.
Hand pumps are a mechanical means of extracting water from boreholes, rainwater tanks or wells. Examples our partners use include the India Mark II, Nira and Afridev hand pumps. The India Mark II and the Afridev hand pumps are both medium to deep well reciprocating pumps. The Nira hand pump is most suitable for hand dug wells and bore holes with shallow water tables.
Blue Planet Run Partners are currently using two methods to solve the Arsenic problem in West Bengal, India.
Rainwater harvesting is being used at primary school sites, as this method traps water before it becomes contaminated in the ground. It's ensured the school rooftop is very large and clean.
The second method is building shallow, concrete dug wells one meter in diameter, less than 30 feet deep. These wells are unique because a layer of coarse sand six inches wide envelops the outer wall of the concrete cylinder and the mouth of the concrete cylinder is covered with a nylon mosquito net and a tin sheet that is padlocked to avoid dropping of any debris and tampering. Water is extracted using hand pumps to reduce potential bacterial contamination. Flexible pipes that float with the fluctuating water table are installed and these reduce the inflow of sand from the bottom and also stir the water during pumping, thus facilitating the dispersal of bacterial colonies. The dugwells are disinfected once a month with sodium hypochlorite solution containing 5% chlorine, following USEPA guidelines. The water in these shallow dugwells is rainwater or surface water from the surrounding water bodies that contain arsenic within the permissible limit.
Spring catchment projects are used by several of our partners. The community builds a concrete box around a spring to protect water from dirt, debris, animals, and other contaminants. The box acts as a storage tank, and can be fitted with a “rope pump” if the depth of the water is high. If the spring is located above the community and is at a far distance, the water can flow by gravity through PVC piping to the community.
Gravity flow projects consist of a spring catchment box connected by piping to a water storage tank and a water distribution system. The water distribution system includes water points for community access.
One of the standard pit latrines is a hand-dug hole 9 feet deep that may be lined with bricks, rocks or stones. Partner organizations supply the concrete slab for the floor, a concrete box seat, and a zinc roof. The community builds the walls and door of local materials.
A SanPlat is a concrete latrine slab that can be integrated into any existing traditional latrine system. SanPlats have elevated footrests on each side of a hole in anatomically correct positions - which helps avoid fouling, even at night. The surface is smooth and sloping, which makes them easy to clean with water and a brush. The hole is shaped to be anatomically correct - to avoid fouling - and child safe, to encourage children to use a latrine. A tight-fitting lid prevents smells and keep flies out.
A Ventilated Improved Pit latrine is similar to a traditional latrine, but with a tall vertical vent pipe that has a mosquito/fly screen fitted at its top. There is a vent built above the doorway and the vent pipe is taller than the rest of the structure. This reduces both odor and the number of insects.
Bore holes are deep and narrow shafts in the ground used for extracting water. They are used as water wells where piped water supplies are not existent.
Rope pumps are mounted on top of handdug or drilled wells. The rope spins on a wheel that has a handle that when turned, lifts water out of the well and out the attached faucet.
Hand pumps are a mechanical means of extracting water from boreholes, rainwater tanks or wells. Examples our partners use include the India Mark II, Nira and Afridev hand pumps. The India Mark II and the Afridev hand pumps are both medium to deep well reciprocating pumps. The Nira hand pump is most suitable for hand dug wells and bore holes with shallow water tables.
Blue Planet Run Partners are currently using two methods to solve the Arsenic problem in West Bengal, India.
Rainwater harvesting is being used at primary school sites, as this method traps water before it becomes contaminated in the ground. It's ensured the school rooftop is very large and clean.
The second method is building shallow, concrete dug wells one meter in diameter, less than 30 feet deep. These wells are unique because a layer of coarse sand six inches wide envelops the outer wall of the concrete cylinder and the mouth of the concrete cylinder is covered with a nylon mosquito net and a tin sheet that is padlocked to avoid dropping of any debris and tampering. Water is extracted using hand pumps to reduce potential bacterial contamination. Flexible pipes that float with the fluctuating water table are installed and these reduce the inflow of sand from the bottom and also stir the water during pumping, thus facilitating the dispersal of bacterial colonies. The dugwells are disinfected once a month with sodium hypochlorite solution containing 5% chlorine, following USEPA guidelines. The water in these shallow dugwells is rainwater or surface water from the surrounding water bodies that contain arsenic within the permissible limit.
Spring catchment projects are used by several of our partners. The community builds a concrete box around a spring to protect water from dirt, debris, animals, and other contaminants. The box acts as a storage tank, and can be fitted with a “rope pump” if the depth of the water is high. If the spring is located above the community and is at a far distance, the water can flow by gravity through PVC piping to the community.
Gravity flow projects consist of a spring catchment box connected by piping to a water storage tank and a water distribution system. The water distribution system includes water points for community access.
One of the standard pit latrines is a hand-dug hole 9 feet deep that may be lined with bricks, rocks or stones. Partner organizations supply the concrete slab for the floor, a concrete box seat, and a zinc roof. The community builds the walls and door of local materials.
A SanPlat is a concrete latrine slab that can be integrated into any existing traditional latrine system. SanPlats have elevated footrests on each side of a hole in anatomically correct positions - which helps avoid fouling, even at night. The surface is smooth and sloping, which makes them easy to clean with water and a brush. The hole is shaped to be anatomically correct - to avoid fouling - and child safe, to encourage children to use a latrine. A tight-fitting lid prevents smells and keep flies out.
A Ventilated Improved Pit latrine is similar to a traditional latrine, but with a tall vertical vent pipe that has a mosquito/fly screen fitted at its top. There is a vent built above the doorway and the vent pipe is taller than the rest of the structure. This reduces both odor and the number of insects.
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