Baoma, Sierra Leone

Water Treatment and Distribution for Baoma, Sierra Leone

Project Goal

Water is life. This statement, emblazoned in blue spray paint on a boulder near the communal spring in Baoma, Sierra Leone, expresses a universal truth. Our goal is to help Baoma meet one of its greatest needs: an adequate supply of clean water. The villagers currently draw water for drinking, cooking and cleaning from three unprotected springs that are contaminated with bacteria.

We are working with the community to improve water quality, provide sufficient quantity to meet the needs of a growing population and institute a system of water governance. Using the information gathered during two assessment trips, EWB-PSU will develop potential improvement alternatives. With collaboration and input from the community, the best option will then be designed, and ultimately built on a separate implementation trip.

Project Gallery

Students take water samples at a collection site.

Project Lead

Jill Morris
E-mail

Project Documents

2012 Post Assessment (522)

Project Updates

Fall 2012

We recently returned from a second water assessment trip to Sierra Leone. The team collected water quality and quantity data for a number of sources, and conducted community health surveys on sanitation practices and water use. We successfully coordinated meetings with the chief, queen, headman and waterboard of the village. Back at Penn State, the club is beginning to develop and design a number of alternatives for water source improvement with the goal of returning to Sierra Leone in May to implement our finalized design.

Engineers without Boarders-Penn State Student Chapter