Kalimati Water Access: a proposal

9th April 2020

Authors: Limi Kalapurackal, Giacomo Pimpini, Wolf van der Hert, Valentina Rodriguez

Technical University Eindhoven

Table of Contents Introduction The challenge The proposal #1: Improvement of the deep boring water access Current situation Improvement concept A gravity flow system Energy storage Realisation Pipeline system: Water tank #2: River water access Concept The Hydraulic RAM Pump Maintenance of pump system (technical details) Pipeline system Maintenance Community Involvement and Capacity Building Community Based Organization Financial Participation Management and Maintenance Bibliography

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Introduction This paper is the result of the work put in a project by a group of students at the Technical University Eindhoven in collaboration with One World Citizens.

The Challenge The aim of the project was to work on a solution for the water scarcity that Kalimati, a village at the footsteps of the Nepali hills, is facing. The population of around 100 households has limited access to water for drinking and irrigation, which causes agriculture, the main economic activity of the area, to fail. Currently, the sources of water are two solar-powered deep borings and, at a distance from the village, a natural spring, which is connected to the village by pipeline.

Beyond the direct need for water, a stable and reliable access point to water can be a driver for economic development and technological innovation in the agricultural field. The students have been working with Pradeep Sapkota, a local entrepreneur who envisions this potential for the village of Kalimati.

The Proposal This proposal contains a strategy for the implementation of two technological solutions. On the short-term, the improvement of the management of the existing water well; on the long-term, accessing the river water through a ram pump. The value of this strategy stands in trying to achieve whatever is possible to achieve on a short term, while at the same time planning for a longer-term solution which would completely satisfy the water demand of Kalimati.

Beyond the technological content, the relevance of this proposal is in exposing the questions left unanswered, in the anticipation of future challenges, and in tackling the community involvement and capacity building, a fundamental section of the project.

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#1: Improvement of the deep boring water access This section presents a proposal for the improvement of the deep boring configuration as the short term answer to water scarcity in Kalimati. This solution would not satisfy the whole demand, but it would represent a great improvement for a relatively low effort and cost.

Current Situation There are two deep borings in Kalimati, established by the government. This document focuses on one of the two wells (at the time).

The deep boring point uses an electric pump. The electricity is supplied by a 900W (3x 300W) solar panel, as the grid is not stable and presents power cuts.

Only one household can be connected to the pump at a time. To have running water, a hose needs to be manually connected at the location of the pump and the pump needs to be switched on. It takes a minute or two for the water to reach the surface and start flowing. The flow is non-constant and slow. To stop the water flow the pump needs to be switched off at the location of the deep boring.

There is a series of inconveniences with the current setting: - Water is not readily accessible: One needs to travel to the well to start and stop the flow - Water is wasted while one is travelling to and from the deep boring, as it cannot be controlled through a tap - Not all energy available is used to access water. Water is pumped only when both the pump is turned on and the solar panel provides enough energy (only during daytime and on sunny days).

- A lot of the energy captured by the solar panel is unused, wasted.

Improvement Concept Despite the incredible advantage of the introduction of these deep borings, they still do not come even close to supplying enough water. The problem is neither the lack of water underground, nor the lack of electric power. The problem is the efficiency of the system.

The proposed solution entails: - A door-to-door, direct, simultaneous and instantaneous access to water - A more efficient use of the solar energy - A reduction of the water wasted

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A Gravity Flow System A gravity flow system is a system in which water falls due to its own weight, due to its gravitational potential energy, from a source above to end users below1. These systems are largely used even in situations where the water stands below the users.

In order to achieve this, water from the borehole needs to be stored in a water tank at a higher altitude than the households and fields. This could be a water tower or a tank located in the lower part of the hills next to Kalimati. This tank acts as a buffer between the input of water which is dependent on the availability of solar energy - and the need for water, thus allowing them to take place at different times of the day. The tank needs then to be connected through pipelines to the households and fields.

There are three main advantages of this system in Kalimati.

Firstly, this system implies a door-to-door, direct, simultaneous and instantaneous access to water. The water tank introduces constant pressure in the pipelines due to the gravitational potential energy. Thus, water can be accessed directly by opening a tap - which can be located at the desired location, without the need of travelling to the deep boring -, at any moment in time - and not only when there is solar energy - and simultaneously by several households.

Secondly, with this improvement there will be substantially more water pumped from underground and thus available. Water will be pumped whenever there is sufficient solar energy and until the storage tank is full, rather than only when it is requested by a user.

Thirdly, water would not be wasted, since the flow is started and stopped instantaneously by opening or closing a tap, rather than by switching the pump on and off.

Energy Storage The introduction of a battery charge by the solar panels is an additional, non-necessary upgrade of the system. This upgrade would: Stabilise the fluctuating power output of the solar panel - and the fluctuating water flow - into a constant power output to the pump - and thus a constant water flow. This would increase the total amount of liters pumped - Deliver power to the pump even after sunny hours, if the solar panel has collected extra energy - Store power whenever it cannot be used because the tank is full - Increase the capacity of the system, since the battery can also be connected to the electric grid

Realisation This section includes suggestions and further references regarding realisation aspects of this concept.

1 Arnalich, S. (2010, September). Gravity Flow Water Supply. Retrieved March 12, 2020, from https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=btnf82Lt1o4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=gravity+water&hl=en&ei=2Y-mTri8M9Ps8QOe1eXQDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=gravity water&f=false. Page 2

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Figure 1. Branched (A) and Looped (B) water distribution systems

Although looped systems are recommendable - as they avoid water stagnation and are less damaged by leakages - it is economically not efficient to create a loop system in Kalimati. Since the households and fields are dispersed, it is much more convenient to create a branched system2.

The “Gravity Flow Water Systems” book provides precise guidelines on how to set up a pipeline distribution system for a rural developing context, including layout of the system, type of pipes to be used, type of connections, etc3. The pipeline system must be maintained in case of leakage, breakage or corrosion. The maintenance depends strongly on the material used for the pipes (iron, PVC, etc.). The South African Water Research Commission has written an extensive manual on the maintenance of these systems4.

Water Tank We opted for a ferrocement water tank, as this is a tank which is relatively easy to manufacture by laymen, with some training. Wire-reinforced cement-mortar is an ideal construction method for this water tank for its advantageous resistance to corrosion and provides an economical alternative to using other kinds of construction materials like galvanized corrugated iron. Additionally, with this material, very large tanks (up to capacities of 125,000 liters) can be built with confidence and durability. Storing water in tanks on the surface is an overall more suitable option, as it is easier to detect and repair any leaks by simply ‘trowelling’ a layer of mortar on the side of an empty tank.

The method used by the “Ferrocement Water Tanks and Their Construction “ manual (Watt, 1981) states that water tanks previously built with this have withstood extreme weather conditions for over 25 years5, making it a reliable method of constructing a water tank.

Materials The basic raw materials needed for constructing a ferrocement water tank consist of water, sand, cement and reinforcing wire, which are generally easy to find in most countries, including Nepal.

Capacity For community water supplies and irrigation, large tanks of up to 150 cubic metres of capacity can be built easily, however require greater organisation during the construction process due to the greater quantity of reinforcing wire and mortar involved.

2Waterhelp.org.

(n.d.).

Looped, Grid, and cle/looped_grid_branch_distribution_systems

Branch

Distribution

Systems.

Retrieved

March

25,

2020,

from

http://www.waterhelp.org/index.php/arti-

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Arnalich, S. (2010, September). Gravity Flow Water Supply. Retrieved March 12, 2020, from https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=btnf82Lt1o4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=gravity+water&hl=en&ei=2Y-mTri8M9Ps8QOe1eXQDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=gravity water&f=false

4 Van Zyl, J. Operation and Maintenance of Water Distribution Systems (2014, July) Cape Town. Retrieved April 6th 2020, from https://www.pseau.org/outils/ouvrages/wrc_introduc-

tion_to_operation_and_maintenance_of_water_distribution_systems_2014.pdf

5 Watt, S., 1981. A Manual On The Hydraulic Ram For Pumping Vvater; By S. B. Watt. [online] Slideshare.net. Available at: <https://www.slideshare.net/Fatin62c/a-manual-on-the-hy-

draulic-ram-for-pumping-vvater-by-s-b-watt> [Accessed 2 April 2020].(Page 8)

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Price/budget The overall pricing of the tank depends on the local conditions, however, the following need to be considered when thinking about budgeting for a ferrocement water tank: - Costs of basic raw materials - Formwork made either for one use (temporary local materials) or for a more permanent construction for multiple uses.

- Wages for plasterers and labourers if the tank is not completely built autonomously - Costs of supervision during construction by trained individuals - Costs of transporting materials and workers.

Water Quality and Safety If the stored water is relatively clean to begin with and the temperature is higher, then the water is expected to purify itself relatively quickly, mainly through natural purifying processes which will rid of any harmful bacteria.

According to the manual, storing water for several weeks will therefore destroy most of the main disease-causing pathogens and also give time for any sediment or other organic matter (leaves,etc) to settle down. Therefore, using a water tank poses relatively little-to-no threat to the health, when the water is used for irrigation purposes, and typical home use, but not for drinking. For drinking quality, extra steps need to be taken to purify the water to potable standards, this can be overcome by boiling the water.

Usually, a wire gauze screen can be used to prevent rubbish from flowing into the tank with the water and stop insects, flies and rodents from entering the tank. However, for irrigation purposes it doesn't need to be so carefully protected.

#2: River water access This is the long-term solution, which aims to completely eradicate the water scarcity problem in the village of Kalimati. Compared to the short term solution, it is a less obvious development and requires more funding.

Concept The Seti Gandaki river flows approximately 50 metres below the village of Kalimati. The vertical distance is what prevents Kalimati from making use of this abundant source.

The river water can be accessed through a pumping mechanism. This water would be collected in a water tank placed at a relative height to the village. From there, a gravity-flow system composed of pipelines can serve the different households and fields. All the advantages and specifications of the gravity-flow system are the same as those described in the previous solution. Instead of using an electric pump, we propose a less expensive, mechanically simpler, environmentally sustainable option: a hydraulic ram pump.

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The Hydraulic RAM Pump The hydraulic ram pump is used to pump water from lower points to higher altitudes without the need for external energy like fuel or electricity. Therefore it only relies on the energy provided by free-flowing water. For this pump to work in a setting such as Kalimati, there are several conditions/requirements that need to be considered when implementing this system.

Free-flowing Sources The ram pump is unable to pump water below ground, which makes it suitable for rural regions, and not for use in cities. Additionally, it cannot be connected to water coming from the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pipe system since it can only pump up to 40% of the water passing through to a higher altitude. Therefore, a ram pump needs a free-flowing source such as springs, streams (creeks), and rivers.

A Fall/drop (Head) A ram pump relies on a change of height, meaning that there needs to be a fall or a drop (head) from the source to the ram pump. This is where the energy to pump the water upwards comes from, as this energy is converted into pressure in the pump system. The system can pump at least 30 times the head, so the more head/fall/ drop available, the higher water can be pumped, or the more water can be pumped to the same height.

In the case of The Kali Gandaki River in Nepal, there is no immediate fall or drop. In this case, the best option is to see if there is a head over a distance (gradual cascading creeks or rivers), a head can be then created by implementing a diversion pipeline, this is a pipe which is more or less placed level, with some inclination for the friction.

Measuring The Head According to AIDFI, the head could be measured with a level hose, sticks, and a measuring tape.

Delivery height This is usually the height from the river to the service area (village/farm). In this case, the delivery height is the height from the river to the water tower, which we approximate it to be approximately 60 meters.

Flow rate There are currently 10 different sizes of ram pumps, each being fit for a specific flow range. Therefore knowing the flow rate of the source is valuable to determine the best size of the ram pump to use.

Additionally, it is helpful to have data on the variation in the flow during the summer and raining season. This is sometimes not feasible to measure, therefore contacting local villagers about these variations might be the next best option to better determine an appropriate size for the ram pump.

Set-up Options In some cases, two smaller ram pumps can be installed, placed parallel instead of one big pump.

Two pumps have the potential to take in the water flow during monsoon season, and during the dry/summer season, allowing only one pump to operate, as the amount of water flowing will decrease, this will ensure an efficient pumping of water.

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Measuring two distances It is also useful to measure (1) the distance from the water source to the ram pump, either directly, or in the case of Kalimati, through the planned diversion pipe, and (2) from the ramp pump to the place of delivery, which in this case, refers to the water tower at a higher point. This and the previous data needs to be gathered in order to ensure the ram pump size that is chosen is the most suitable for the pumping water up to the water tower in Kalimati.

Table 1. Table modified to Nepalese currency based on table from AIDFI website6

Maintenance of pump system (technical details) The Supply Source It is important to keep the entryway of the pump clear of any dirt, leaves, or other objects that could block the entryway. A way to achieve this is to incorporate grating, which works as a net in order to filter the water flowing from the river, catching any unwanted objects from entering the ram pump.

A sump can be incorporated in order to keep silt, which is deposited sediment from fine sand, clay or other materials carried by running water from blocking the entryway of the ram pump.

According to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Manual of Information On The Automatic Hydraulic Ram For Pumping Waterâ&#x20AC;?7, tasks involved in the keeping of the hydraulic ram pump system include: - Dismantling the ram to remove any deposited dirt.

- Clearing air locks in the pipe system - Adjusting the tuning, tightening bolts which might have gone loose - Changing the valve rubber, as well as adjusting the seating of valves - Keeping the inflow to the drive pipe free of debris - Clearing filters and gratings

Pipeline system A pipeline system is then to be connected to the water tank that leads down to the village for easier distribution of a constant flow of water to the villagers of Kalimati to be used for irrigation purposes.

Refer to the previous section on the deep-boring management.

6 AIDFI. (2017, May 22). DATA NEEDED FOR CHOOSING A RAM PUMP. Retrieved from https://www.aidfi.org/shop/ram-pump/ 7 Fatin62c Follow. (2013, June 4). A Manual on the Hydraulic Ram for Pumping VVater; by S. B. Watt. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/Fatin62c/a-manual-on-the-hydraulic-ram-for-pumping-vvater-by-s-b-watt

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Maintenance Maintenance for pipe systems are highly dependent on the material and setup of the system.

However we recommend looking at the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Introduction to Operation and Maintenance of Water Distribution Systemsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;8, it provides useful information on the various materials and related maintenance issues that each faces.

Community Involvement and Capacity Building We believe that this project should be taken up by the local community of Kalimati and its implementation should involve as many local stakeholders as possible. Inspired by the work done by NGOs such as NEWAH, we would like to give some guidelines on how this could be done.

Community Based Organization Currently, Kalimati has a nine-member board that comprises members aged between 25 and 60 years. The project that we present could be taken up by this board. Another option could be for the board to form a community-based organization. This body should be inclusive in the way that there will be member representations for each gender, caste, ethnic and socio-economic group.

From a normative perspective, inclusion is a prerogative in this innovation, since such developments can have an enormous impact on the livelihood of the people involved. This is demonstrated by assessment of many water access projects and by literature9. The organization will be responsible for the planning, financing, managing, monitoring, operating and maintaining of this water project. They are also in charge of communicating with external stakeholders (experts, authorities, etc) and should be officially registered as an association.

Financial Participation Currently, each member of the community contributes Rs.50 per month. In most projects carried out in Nepal by NGOs, there is a co-funding agreement10. The benefitting population is also economically responsible for operation and maintenance. Financial participation contributes to the responsibility and sense of shared ownership of the water access point. Parties involved in the financing (community-based organization, authorities, etc.) should sign an agreement regarding the financial details and responsibilities before the implementation of the solutions starts11. Once the solution has been implemented, it should be registered at the District Water Resource Committee.

Management and Maintenance The community-based organization is also responsible for the management and maintenance of the implemented solutions. The committee can receive leadership training (by experts such as NEWAH) to ensure that it works democratically and it effectively plans and manages the assets12.

Such training is essential for learning the technical aspects but also to build leadership and management skills. Campaigns could also be conducted in order to spread awareness regarding water management and to bring about behavioral changes in the locals and their usage of water. Monitoring and maintenance of the system are necessary in order to assure that the solutions do not stop functioning in a short time. Such monitoring and maintenance can be based on the usersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; evaluation of their progress and priority necessities. Through regular surveys, the extent to which the project has an impact on agricultural production could also be measured.

8Zyl, J. E. van. (2014). Introduction to Operation and Maintenance of Water Distribution Systems, (1), Page 64. Retrieved from https://www.pseau.org/outils/ouvrages/wrc_introduc-

tion_to_operation_and_maintenance_of_water_distribution_systems_2014.pdf 9 Shibesh Chandra Regmi, & Ben Fawcett. (1999). Integrating Gender Needs into Drinking-Water Projects in Nepal. Gender and Development, 7(3), 62-72. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/4030411 10 Nepal Water for Health (2019). Annual report 2018-19. pg 10 11 Nepal Water for Health (2019). Annual report 2018-19. pg 16 12 Nepal Water for Health (2019). Annual report 2018-19. pg 16

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The community-based organization could assign a local monitoring committee who will be trained for the proper maintenance and monitoring of the technical aspects of the project. As stated in the manual, for a commercial pump, such as the AIDFI Hydraulic Ram Pump, the most suitable choice for maintenance may be to conduct maintenance at longer intervals by somebody who has access to a wide range of tools and components. The frequency of inspection of the system and its maintenance depends on the proximity of the technicians and their availability. Hence, ideally the overall maintenance of the pump could be carried out by a villager who lives close by and this should be done at least once a week.

Conclusion With this proposal, we aim to provide a general basis that interested parties can further take on, analyze, and build from, so that this project can eventually come to life and Kalimati can finally have proper access to water.

The links below present simple video models, made to support and better portray the solutions presented in this proposal.

Deep boring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X79hMwVadqQ&feature=youtu.be Ram Pump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHzP_32KvZQ&feature=youtu.be

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Bibliography Arnalich, S. (2010, September). Gravity Flow Water Supply. Retrieved March 12, 2020, from https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=btnf82Lt1o4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=gravity+water&hl=en&ei=2Y-mTri8M9Ps8QOe1eXQDw&sa=X&o i=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=gravity water&f=false Van Zyl, J. Operation and Maintenance of Water Distribution Systems (2014, July) Cape Town. Retrieved from https://www.pseau.org/outils/ouvrage s / w r c _ i n t r o d u c t i o n _ t o _ o p eration_and_maintenance_of_water_distribution_systems_2014.pdf Waterhelp.org. (n.d.). Looped, Grid, and Branch Distribution Systems. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from http://www.waterhelp.org/index.php/article/looped_grid_branch_distribution_systems Chandra Regmi, S., & Fawcett, B. (2010). Gender &#x26; Development Integrating gender needs into drinking-water projects in Nepal. https://doi.org/10.1080/741923243 Nepal Water for Health (2019). Annual report 2018-19. Retrieved from: h t t p s : / / n e w a h . o r g . n p / s i t e s / d e f a u l t / fi l e s / A n n u a l % 2 0 R e port%202018-19_Final%20Draft_1.pdf AIDFI. (2017, May 22). DATA NEEDED FOR CHOOSING A RAM PUMP. Retrieved from https://www.aidfi.org/shop/ram-pump/ Fatin62c Follow. (2013, June 4). A Manual on the Hydraulic Ram for Pumping VVater; by S. B. Watt. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/Fatin62c/a-manual-on-the-hydraulic-ram-for-pumping-vvater-by-s-b-watt

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